Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S SLOW PROGRES
Miller strike settles struggling Gers
RANGERS brought their six-year European hiatus to an end with a narrow win over Progres Niederkorn at Ibrox last night. The Light Blues’ 2012 financial implosion left them locked outside the continent’s elite. But it was an underwhelming Europa League return as Kenny Miller’s first-half winner saw Rangers scrape a first-leg win over their opening qualifying round opponents from Luxembourg. Boss Pedro Caixinha (right) started three of his eight summer signings against the part-timers as defender Fabio Cordoso, midfielder Ryan Jack and wideman Dalcio got the nod. However, it was Niko Kranjcar - finally back after his eight-month knee injury nightmare - who impressed most as he sprayed passes one way and the other. The fevered Ibrox faithful reacted to last week’s news of a peace deal with Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley by snapping up both kits and tickets in their thousands. And they turned the volume all the way up as the home side strode out into the sold-out stadium. But while Jack and Kranjcar looked sharp, running the show from the middle, there was a sluggish look about their team-mates in their first competitive game of the new campaign. Kranjcar and David Bates passed up big chances but just as blue nerves started to jangle with eight minutes to go until half-time, the former Portsmouth and Tottenham playmaker spotted the crucial chink in Progres’ armour. The minnows conceded a free on the edge of their own box and as they jogged into position Kranjcar took the set-piece quickly, releasing Miller to slot underneath Sebastien Flauss. But the visiting stopper did better as he parried another Kranjcar effort and a diving Cordoso header before the break. There was a heart-in-mouth moment as Alexander Karapetian was left all alone to fire straight at Wes Foderingham in the second half but Gers survived and take the 1-0 lead into Tuesday’s return leg.