WORKIN PROGRES BUTNIKO EARNS HISKORN

Caixinha’s goal-shy Gers should finish the job in Luxembourg

IT was, as the card and banner display in the Broomloan read, good to be back for Rangers. This was a starting point, a first look at a new look. The Light Blues remain very much a work in Progres.

The win over Niederkorn was the most important aspect for boss Pedro Caixinha. The performance wasn’t sparkling, but it was never going to be.

This 1-0 victory ensured the job got off to a decent start. Now it must be finished in Luxembour g on Tuesday evening.

This night has been a long time coming for Rangers and there was a sense of occasion in the air as European football returned to Ibrox for the first time in six years.

Chairman Dave King was given a warm welcome as he addressed the capacity crowd and the Light Blue legions raised the decibel level. After all the waiting and all the build-up, it was down to business.

The fans who made their way to Ibrox did so with a sense of anticipation but it was a step into the unknown.

Few would have had any idea what to e xpect from their visitors from Luxembourg but it was the players in blue they had come to see.

Caixinha has made eight additions to his squad this summer and three were handed their bows last night.

Fabio Cardoso started at the back alongside James Tavernier, David Bates and Lee Wallace, while there was one new face and one lesser spotted one in the middle of the park as Ryan Jack and Niko Kranjcar were joined by Jason Holt.

Winger Dalcio was the only recent recruit to start up front as he operated on the opposite flank from Kenny Miller.

With Alfredo Morelos on the bench and Eduardo Herrera not in the squad, Martyn Waghorn was given the nod through the middle.

There were also spots on the bench for Daniel Candeias and Jordan Rossiter as he made his long-awaited return to action after a lengthy lay-off that ruined his first season at Ibrox.

The summer shutdown may have been short but it has been productive for Caixinha and this was the night he has been working towards since he first climbed the Marble Staircase in March.

It was a satisfactory return to competitive action for the Portuguese and he will be pleased with the foundation that his side now has to build on both in Luxembourg and in the coming weeks.

The Ibrox crowd have become accustomed to seeing teams sit in and attempting to frustrate and it was no surprise that Progres found themselves penned in from the off.

Rangers dominated possession and Kranjcar was at the heart of it. His talent has never been in question, but the doubts over his fitness have been at the back of minds since his arrival last summer.

HIS progress was abruptly ended last term but the signs were encouraging here once again as he displayed his neat close control and range of passing.

It was his quick thinking that helped Rangers break the deadlock as they deservedly took the lead after 36 minutes.

The Croat slipped Miller through and he rifled the ball beyond keeper Sebastian Flauss.

It may have taken longer than expected, but it was more than deserved for Rangers. They weren’t clinical, but they were comfortable.

Jack and Dalcio had both tried their luck from the edge of the area early on but it was Kranjcar who should have opened the scoring as he headed a whipped cross from Tavernier just wide of target.

Bates and Kranjcar had chances either side of Miller’s goal, the midfielder stinging Flauss’ palms with a low drive, while Cardoso saw his diving header well saved by the Niederkorn keeper just before the whistle.

The misses shouldn’t prove costly overall but they did mean a sigh of relief went around Ibrox when Alexander Karapetian forced Wes Foderingham into action for the first time.

It was the signal for Caixinha to turn to his bench as he looked to provide a spark. Holt was replaced as Miller reverted to a central berth and Candeias made his debut on the right.

Rangers could have done with a second goal to give themselves a bit of breathing space but chances were few and far between as the home crowd started to get slightly on edge.

The arrival of Rossiter brought a hearty roar from the stands, though, as the former