MARGINAL GAINS
Skipper Tav admits Gers can’t afford to blink at any more big moments in knockout bid
JAMES TAVERNIER says Rangers must make big improvements on how they handle the Europa League’s small margins.
The Scottish champions face an uphill battle to make the knockout stages for the third year running after last night’s slump in Prague.
The 1-0 loss to Sparta, sealed thanks to David Hancko’s first-half header, leaves Steven Gerrard’s team bottom of Group A.
Skipper Tavernier reckons things could be looking much brighter had Rangers not blinked at vital moments against the Czechs.
Leon Balogun headed just wide with the game goalless while Fashion Sakala had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half.
Allan McGregor can’t be accused of not doing his part after making a string of important saves but Sparta got their opening when
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Calvin Bassey, thrust into the middle of defence as cover for the injured Connor Goldson, failed to track Hancko.
Rangers ended the game with 10 men after Glen Kamara was harshly sent off but still had chances late on to snatch a draw.
Tavernier said: “It’s disappointing not to get at least a point.
“These are games of moments and Sparta took their moment in the first half from the corner.
“We had a great chance in the first half from a corner.
“These are the small details in these games that we need to improve on.
“We need to get on the end of chances and put the ball in the back of the net.
“We always know in these kinds of games we will need Greegsy to pull off big saves – we have done in previous seasons. He pulled off some great saves tonight.
“We just need to tighten up and have that cutting edge in the final third, to take our chances and put us in a good position.”
Gerrard’s team made it all the way to the last 16 last season, with their only defeat coming in a controversy-hit Ibrox clash with Sparta’s Prague rivals Slavia.
This time round they have found continental action much tougher.
Their first-leg win over play-off round opponents Alashkert stands as the only victory they have posted in six attempts.
Having suffered losses to Lyon and Sparta, hopes of escaping their section could hinge on how they fare in the upcoming double-header with Danes Brondby.
Tavernier’s fellow full-back Borna Barisic said: “It was a disappointing night for us but there are still four matches to play and we are looking forward to them.
“It is disappointing in the end, of course, because we lost the game.
“In the end that one moment decided the game but to be fair they had a couple of chances and we were open, especially after we lost a man on the pitch.
“I think we had a couple of chances and didn’t score.
“Box to box, we didn’t play that badly.
“But we need to be better in the final third – maybe a better pass, a better relationship, a better cross.
“We need to be better. We spoke in the dressing room and we know some things we need to correct in the team. I cannot say that after we lose one man we played badly. I think we gave even more in that moment and tried to score the goal.
“We need that final moment, that bit of magic to score the goal. We didn’t do that.”
Matchwinner Hancko popped up with the clincher just before the half hour and said: “It was one of the most important goals of my career. At the previous corner I noticed my marker was not covering the near post so I told Jakub (Pesek) to send his corner there. We were alert in defence because Rangers were dangerous. I have to give us credit for working hard.”
We need to get on the end of our chances and put the ball in the net JAMES TAVERNIER ADMITS GERS ARE COMING UP SHORT