Gerrard’s side can take pride in the progress
THE fireworks that exploded over Ibrox shortly after kick-off were a reminder that this visit of Slavia Prague to Govan should have doubled as the mother and father of all title parties.
In normal circumstances, a first home game since Rangers ended a ten-year wait to clinch the top-flight title would have been a sold-out, rocking, raucous affair.
Yet, with fans locked out due to the ongoing pandemic, inside the ground Rangers were restricted to marking the achievement by unfurling a giant banner with the number 55 behind the Premiership trophy bearing the words ‘Rangers champions’.
As impressive as Rangers have been domestically this season in winning a 55th championship, in Europe their achievements under Steven Gerrard had been arguably even more impressive.
That the last 16 of the Europa League ultimately proved a glass ceiling for a second season in a row — after nine-man Rangers fell to a 2-0 home loss — should not take the shine off the progress made since, well, Progres.
The last European match played before the Gerrard era remains arguably the most humiliating result in the club’s history.
On July 4, 2017, Rangers were knocked out of the Europa League by Progres Niederkorn, the fourth best team in Luxembourg, who had never previously won a European game.
Goals from Emmanuel Francoise and Sebastian Thill saw doomed manager Pedro Caixinha defend himself against his many critics from within a local piece of shrubbery outside the stadium.
Compare and contrast with the European adventures that until last night had Rangers unbeaten on the continent all season against the likes of Galatasaray, Benfica and Royal Antwerp.
But here was the journey’s end as the impressive Czech side deservedly added Rangers to their scalp of Brendan Rodgers’ big-spending Leicester City in the previous round.
The last time the Ibrox side did manage to reach a quarter-final in Europe, they went all the way to the final of the UEFA Cup in 2008.
That was under Walter Smith, the club icon who remains in hospital recovering from an operation, with all of Scottish football uniting this week to wish him well.
In the BT gantry were two members of Smith’s side that season in centre-half David Weir and right-back Alan Hutton, who left for Tottenham four months before the final against Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester.
Current right-back Nathan Patterson has well and truly bounced back from being part of a group of five players ordered to self-isolate after breaching Covid-19 regulations to attend a house party in Glasgow.
He was hailed before the game by Gerrard as a future Scotland right-back, and the Class of 2007-08 were both effusive in their praise of the 19-year-old.
‘I think Nathan Patterson has been excellent,’ said Hutton of a player deputising for captain James Tavernier.
‘He’s only 19 years of age so to come in and play the way he has played with no fear has been great.
‘I’d have brought him into the Scotland squad to get used to the surroundings. I think it would have been good experience for him.’
The old head of Weir preached caution, however, saying: ‘He doesn’t need too much too soon.
‘I’m sure he will be a Scotland international, probably for a long time.
‘We are going into World Cup qualifiers this month, not a friendly where you can blood someone, so I can understand the decision.’
While all eyes were on Patterson, it was Allan McGregor who found himself in the limelight. This time for the wrong reasons.
Before the game, Slavia boss Jindrich Trpisovsky had hailed the Rangers keeper’s first leg save from Lukas Masopust’s goalbound header in Prague as better than Gordon Banks’ legendary save from Pele in 1970.
But the 39-year-old could have done better with Peter Olayinka’s opening headed goal as the keeper made his 87th European appearance for Rangers.
Rangers had scored in every one of their last 42 games but they had a mountain to climb when substitute Kemar Roofe was sent off after leaving stud marks on the face of Slavia keeper Ondrej Kolar.
When Leon Balogun was shown a red for a lunge on Masopust, Nicolae Stanciu completed the scoring before the game ended in angry scenes after Ondrej Kudela covered his mouth and whispered something to Glen Kamara.
Ultimately, it was a first Ibrox loss in all competitions since a 3-1 reverse to Bayer Leverkusen in last season’s last 16 way back last March.
While Rangers will feel they did not do themselves justice here, there was pride to be taken in the journey that got them this far.
And there will be no time for players to feel sorry for themselves. Not when up next on Sunday is an Old Firm derby at Celtic Park.