THE case for the defence was compelling for Rangers domestically last season as clean sheets were kept, records broken and history made. In Europe, the jury is still out.

As Steven Gerrard’s side eased to the Premiership title, the numbers spoke for themselves at both ends of the park. It was in their own half where the foundations were laid, though.

At the beginning of the campaign, Rangers would surpass an achievement that had stood for 114 years. The feat of seven successive clean sheets was the first box ticked by Gerrard’s side.

In the months that followed, the shut-outs would be racked up with a relentless regularity and the champions would end the term how they started it as Aberdeen failed to find a breakthrough.

That clean sheet was Rangers’ 26th in the Premiership and the British record set by Chelsea of just 15 goals conceded in a league campaign would also fall.

On the continent, it was a very different story, however. Now Gerrard must ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself this term and address their issues in Europe.

Rangers have been routinely resolute domestically for some time now, but they have been exposed too readily when they make the step up a level. The goals against column is surely a source of concern for Gerrard.

The quality of opposition must, of course, be taken into context but Rangers have now conceded 17 times in their last 11 outings, dating back to the clean sheet in Liege that saw them start a run that would lead them to the last 16 of the competition once again.

The only other shut-outs in that run came in the matches with Lech Poznan. In seven others, the draw in Prague being the only exception, Rangers would concede two or more goals.

Results have still been earned at times, but that is a pattern that is not conducive to success and the two that were lost in Malmo could yet turn out to be the most costly ones after Rangers shot themselves in the foot once again.

Some can be put down to moments of magic from an inspired opposition, but many were slack and avoidable from Rangers’ perspective and the latest ones have to be put in that category as well.

Gerrard would pinpoint Filip Helander in his post-match interview as he praised the ‘outstanding’ Swede for turning in a Champions League level performance against his former club. Davis, naturally, got the plaudits for his goal that gives Rangers hope.

But Gerrard made it clear that ‘six or seven’ had to raise their levels and he was clearly irked by the manner of the goals conceded as well as the fact that Rangers allowed themselves to be picked apart so easily and so soon after going behind.

He would lament the fact that Rangers lost their way and ‘never really cleared our heads’. At 2-0, Gerrard could have been forgiven for fearing the worst but his belief was rewarded as the champions’ perseverance paid off.

Rangers were largely comfortable against a side who had the benefit of 13 Allsvenskan matches and two qualifiers against HJK Helsinki under their belts. That made the mistakes and the result all the harder to take.

Rangers certainly weren’t outplayed, but they could have been out of the tie as a result of that inexplicable start to the second half.

At that stage, Rangers were reeling. Had it not been for the last-gasp strike from Davis that deflated Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side, the Light Blues could have been all-but out of their first Champions League campaign in a decade after just 90 minutes.

When Rangers failed to deal with the threat down their left side, Birmancevic’s cross wasn’t stopped at source. At the back post, John Lundstram and James Tavernier where nowhere to be seen as Rangers were caught too narrow and Rieks punished them with an accomplished finish.

Those lapses in concentration and positional errors were bad enough, but Rangers then compounded them as Birmancevic rolled the ball beyond McGregor just seconds later.

Once again, there was a catalogue of errors in the build-up. Tavernier’s slack pass into midfield allowed Malmo the break, while Connor Goldson couldn’t sort his feet out quickly enough as he missed two chances to get a block in.

The praise that Rangers, and Tavernier and Goldson in particular, earned for their performances in the Premiership was merited last season but Gerrard’s side were too easily exposed on a handful of occasions in the Europa League. Tuesday evening, then, was another harsh lesson.

It is one that Rangers must learn from quickly. Such mistakes, especially ones as basic as not picking up a threat or being careless in possession, cannot be excused at this level.

Overall, there was little between the teams on the night and Rangers can take heart from that assessment and the scoreline ahead of their return to Ibrox next week for what promises to be an electrifying night of European action.

Rangers must score, but a clean sheet is paramount, especially now that the away goal that they scored in the first leg has no added bearing on the tie.

Rangers will attack and defend together, win or lose together. The opportunity is there for more collective success, but only if the individual errors are eradicated as Gerrard’s side aim to keep their Champions League dreams alive.