THE 11 PLUS
History made on night of frustration as Rangers pass another European exam RANGERS ....... 0 SPARTAK ....... 0
HISTORY made. Just not a landmark night to stay carved in the memory.
Steven Gerrard’s impressive start to life at Rangers was marked by this milestone result that extended the unbeaten Euro run to 11 games and broke the single-season record set by Walter Smith’s heroes of 1992-93.
Yet as the fans trooped out of Ibrox there were feelings of frustration instead of delight.
Rangers could have won it. Their first-half domination was strong and there were chances after the break to sink Spartak.
It’s what ultimately led to some regrets at full-time.
But this morning there will be more perspective. More confirmation that Rangers are on the right road.
Perhaps it’s a marker of how Gerrard’s team have progressed that a draw at home against a top Russian side to stay in excellent shape for qualification from the group at the halfway stage is viewed as a bit of a disappointment.
There’s no question Gerrard wanted more. Spartak looked there for the taking at one point but there are no recriminations.
Heading to Moscow on Thursday week, Rangers top Group G and go to Russia with their own little piece of history in the bag.
But just like Smith’s team against CSKA Moscow in 1993 it was reached with a goalless draw.
And just as Ally McCoist and Co felt they were due more, so did Gerrard’s men.
It was set up for another night of magic from the off.
Gerrard made a point of spelling out the importance of the supporters’ role during the win over Rapid Vienna in the previous outing and the punters were determined to play their part again as Ibrox crackled with colour and noise at the outset.
The fact Spartak gathered for a Celtic-style pre-match huddle didn’t discourage them from turning up the volume. And neither did the sight of their side winning a corner inside 21 seconds which Alfredo Morelos glanced a header just wide.
It was never going to be that straightforward and the Russians quickly regrouped.
Moscow may have had their issues heading to Glasgow but there was still plenty of tactical discipline at the disposal of interim coach Raul Riancho and they settled into the surroundings with relative comfort.
Rangers were the better side in the first half, no question, but couldn’t find the breakthrough despite one or two threatening moments.
Gerrard had sprung no shocks in selection with the expected returns of Joe Worrall and Jon Flanagan in the backline at the expense of benched pair Nikola Katic and Andy Halliday while Ryan Jack was back for a first taste of group-stage football in Europe.
His job was to patrol the middle of the park and get his team going which he did along with Ovie Ejaria and Lassana Coulibaly.
The Mali international was also keen to get forward and had a shot blocked after a James Tavernier free-kick unsettled the visitors before Daniel Candeias blew a wonderful opportunity to give Coulibaly a tap-in.
Morelos released Candeias yet a simple centre from the winger inside the penalty area was wastefully blasted over the head of his team-mate.
It was 25 minutes before Spartak keeper Aleksandr Maksimenko had to make a serious contribution.
Yet his punch clear of a whipped Candeias cross across the six-yard box came when Rangers had begun to increase the tempo.
The Russians managed to quickly dampen the fires to get to the interval with parity.
Rangers kept trying to make things happen. With Allan McGregor having virtually nothing to do in the opening period his colleagues had a solid platform from which to probe with
patience. Morelos was forced deep to get involved and managed to link the game with some decent touches but was kept a fair distance from the goal.
Ryan Kent and Ejaria also displayed some neat touches but a backline marshalled by powerful skipper Georgi Dzhikiya did their jobs.
Kent’s strike down the throat of Maksimenko near the interval was as close as it got and Rangers needed to find another gear after the restart.
Morelos was the first into his stride, firing a strike that Maksimenko saved.
The big concern was Spartak had suddenly shaken off shackles and posed a threat. Brazilian Fernando saw a snapshot deflected wide. And as sub Sofiane Hanni miscued at the far post there was a recognition that, while Rangers wanted to win it, they could not be gung-ho with fresh danger going the other way.
Ticking beyond the hour mark the match was there for either side to win. Rangers nearly did.
Morelos had a drive blocked and drilled a fantastic ball right across the target which was just out of Coulibaly’s reach before Gerrard pitched Eros Grezda into the fray.
It was swinging back and forth and McGregor beat away a fierce Hanni drive from the edge of the area before Grezda and Morelos came within inches of knocking into the net as the ball pinballed under Maksimenko’s nose.
Ibrox waited for the final twist. Breath was held as raiding right-back Nikolai Rasskazov bent a belter with the outside of his left peg just a fraction off target.
Grezda screamed for a spot-kick when he hit the deck in the box and Tavernier fired over. Grezda had a final chance in injury time but, just like 1993, the winner didn’t come.