EVERY cup elimination leads to an inquest and Rangers have much to ponder after their Europa League adventure came to an end with defeat to Rapid Vienna.

It was not this game on its own that saw Steven Gerrard’s charges knocked out and Rangers must surely nurse a sense of regret about the failure to get out of the group and progress to the last 32.

The failure to beat bottom club Spartak Moscow home and away – they only secured one point against the Russians – was pivotal to their exit. Rapid, in contrast, took six points from Spartak.

At least on the plus side Rangers have restored some of their pride after the shameful first qualifying defeat to Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn last season. That was a result that shook Scottish football but in 14 games this season in Europe, Rangers have only suffered two defeats and did their bit to boost the coefficient but that will be small consolation right now to the Ibrox support, 10,000 of whom followed them to Vienna, or the management team who will all be thinking about what might have been.

Sadly for Rangers, history did not repeat itself. In 1964, they staged one of their most memorable Euro victories with a 2-0 win against Rapid in Vienna. Sadly it was blighted when legend Jim Baxter suffered a broken leg in the last minute and with it went their chances of lifting the European Cup. Something that many observers believed they were capable of that season.

Allan McGregor can make mistakes

Former Celtic and Scotland manager Gordon Strachan claimed Rangers were too big a club for some of Steven Gerrard’s summer recruits to handle but that is not an accusation that can be levelled at Allan McGregor.

The Ibrox No.1 was no stranger to the club and has made a triumphant return with no-one doing more to push Rangers to the brink of the last 32 of the Europa League.

In Vienna, however, it all went wrong as his poor clearance went straight to a Rapid player. The Austrians punished the error with a slick-attacking move that dissected Rangers’ defence, Dejan Ljubicic finishing it off to end Rangers’ European dream.

Alfredo Morelos can keep his cool

It has not taken a lot for the red mist to descend over Alfredo Morelos this season, as three red cards would testify. Clearly the Rapid defenders had done their homework as they took turns to clatter into the Colombian. Morelos, however, did not take the bait as he kept his cool and his emotions in check.

But he is clearly a player that needs the fire burning in his belly, and while he had nice play outside the box, he was not a threat inside it with none of the chances falling for the 17-goal hitman.

Good times ahead for Glenn Middleton

Graeme Murty left the current Rangers management team a gem in the shape of teenage wide-man Glenn Middleton. Murty used his know-how of Norwich City to snap up the 18-year-old in the transfer window last January and he has blossomed under the guidance of Steven Gerrard.

This was the third Europa League group game in a row the winger has started and it was another huge show of faith from Gerrard. In the first half, Middleton with direct runs down the left flank produced some of the few moments of panic in the Rapid defence. It wasn’t only going forward that he impressed as he did not neglect his defence duties and regularly got back to help snuff out any attacks from the home side.

He looked the most likely to orchestrate a breakthrough but did not have the same impact after the interval, although he has showed he can be a key player for Rangers in the rest of the season.

Grass not always the best

Before the game Gerrard claimed the poor state of the playing surface in the Allianz Stadion would not be used an excuse regardless of the outcome of the game. But the rutted, patched up surface was not conducive to free-flowing football as it cut up badly and the ball bobbled about all over the place. For those whose first touch was questionable, and there were a few of those on both sides, the awkward playing surface certainly did help.

Rangers might never have believed it but how they must have longed for the much criticised plastic pitches at Kilmarnock, Hamilton and even Livingston. Those Astro-turf surfaces are like a bowling green compared to the sub-standard pitch in Vienna.

Players on the move in January

Rangers midfielders Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield, Lassana Couibaly and the impressive Ross McCrorie, all put in a shift but the Ibrox outfit are crying out for a creative spark. They had plenty of possession but could not turn that into clear cut chances. The only real threat to the Rapid goal was a first half header from Connor Goldson that thumped off the crossbar.

Gerrard has stated there won’t be much activity in the January transfer window but that midfield needs attention.

And now there won’t just be speculation about incomings but with the European adventure over there could well be outgoings.

Having recently announced huge losses of more than £14 million, Rangers need to bring in cash to balance the books and although Gerrard does not want to lose any of his key players business is business and prized assets James Tavernier and Morelos could be vulnerable if the right offers come in.