Rangers were booed at Ibrox as calamity defending against Club Brugge left their Champions League hopes in the balance after a 3-1 first-leg defeat in their play-off tie. A bit of luck against Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen gave the Gers hope of a return to European footballs elite club competition, but simple mistakes left them 2-0 down after just seven minutes.
Nasser Djiga failed to deal with a bouncing ball inside his half, allowing Romeo Vermant to race in and dink the ball over Jack Butland from 30 yards. How the teams lined up | StatsGot Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app 📱 Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract 📺 They switched off again leaving Jorne Spileers unmarked to send the ball in from a corner, with some home fans then heading for the exits when Brandon Mechele fired in a brilliant third.
Jayden Meghoma was handed his Rangers debut and his cross set up Danilo to pull a goal back after the break. Djeidi Gassama thought he had pulled them back into the tie late on, but his goal was disallowed after a VAR review, with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet judged to have two hands on the ball when Gassama prodded it over the line.
Rangers boss Russell Martin said he had always thought there was no quick fix to the issues which have dogged the club in recent years and suggested he was unsurprised his new side had come up short – having now won just three of eight matches in all competitions.
I came to this club knowing it wasnt going to be easy, he said. Its not a quick fix. I hope well be judged in May and by then well be in a really good place. Hopefully well be competing and winning stuff, its as simple as that.
This early I didnt expect anything but a bit of pain. Its been the same at every club Ive been at. You get a job because the team is struggling and rarely do you get the chance to just build on something.
Is Champions League football out of reach for another season? Cheers quickly turned to jeers at Ibrox once again as a horror mistake by Djiga allowed Tzolis pass to give Vermant an easy finish to stun everyone inside the ground.
The Gers fans were still getting their head around that early goal when Tzolis corner from the right was knocked past Butland by the unmarked Spileers from 12 yards. The boos that rang round the ground intensified when Mechele, making his 500th appearance for Brugge, stepped all too easily in front of Danilo just outside the Rangers box and gave Butland no chance with an arrowed right-footed drive to put the visitors three up in 20 minutes.
Light Blues midfielder Joe Rothwell clipped the outside of a post with a free-kick from 25 yards in the 26th minute but it was not the signal for a comeback as Butland had to brilliantly beat away a drive from Carlos Forbes, with the home defence again split open.
A three-goal deficit at the break left the Gers support in a state of shock but they got a lifeline when Danilo slid in to convert an enticing cross from Meghoma. Brugge stepped up the pace and amid a flurry of corners, Butland made a fine from Joel Ordonez.
Gassama had the ball in the Brugge net in the 78th minute but French referee Francois Letexier was asked by VAR to check his pitchside monitor and quickly decided that Mignolet had the ball in his hands before it was bundled into the net.
The Light Blues second-half display was heartening but it was a nightmare first 20 minutes which keeps the spotlight on Russell Martin for the wrong reasons. Martin: Its not a quick fix Rangers head coach Russell Martin: You cant impact anything at that point [3-0 down] so its the most difficult situation.
Youre desperate for half-time to sit down and assess things with the players. It was really difficult, but Im pleased with their response. I came to this club knowing it wasnt going to be easy. Its not a quick fix.
I hope well be judged in May and by then well be in a really good place. Hopefully well be competing and winning stuff, its as simple as that. This early I didnt expect anything but a bit of pain. Its been the same at every club Ive been at.
You get a job because the team is struggling and rarely do you get the chance to just build on something. I want to change a lot and in the second half tonight, the energy of the fans – were going to need more of that.
Im proud of them for that and the team will grow. Boyd: No positives for Rangers to take Sky Sports Kris Boyd: I know you can see mistakes, but its been happening far too often for Rangers this season.
The first goal, theres a total mix-up. Djigas got to deal with it and (John) Souttar should be covering anyway, but lovely finish – take nothing away from Vermant. After the second one, as well, Rangers decided to go zonal – theres nobody picking [him up].
Its just a free hit at goal. Jack Butland with absolutely no chance of saving that, which hell be really disappointed with. Especially at this level, you cant be giving free attempts at goal. Rangers rallied a little bit and got the goal through Danilo – good ball in from Meghoma down the left-hand side – but too little, too late for me.
Rangers European dreams are in tatters tonight, thats for sure, but take nothing away from Club Brugge. It does look as if its going to be a step too far for Rangers. You just never know, but theres one thing thats an absolute certainty, Rangers have got a huge league game in Paisley at the weekend now against St Mirren.
After next weeks second leg theyve got the Old Firm game, a first taste of it for Russell Martin. Theres nothing to be positive about for Rangers tonight – especially that first half.
