The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
McGregor to fore as Rangers hold nerve
Gerrard’s side through to face Ufa in play-off round
Rangers held their nerve in Maribor as Allan McGregor’s stoppage-time penalty save sealed the 0-0 draw which sees Steven Gerrard’s men into the Europa League play-offs.
The Light Blues had to grit their teeth as the Slovenians came for them at the Ljudski Stadion, with McGregor capping off a fine display as he repelled Marcos Tavares’ late spot-kick.
A 4,600-mile round trip now beckons for Gers as they march on to face FC Ufa after the Russians denied Rangers a shot at revenge against Progres Niederkorn for last year’s humiliating upset.
Ryan Jack was back after concussion but Lassana Coulibaly missed out with the strain picked up during Sunday’s win over St Mirren.
The opening stages were a test of Gers’ bottle as the hosts – buoyed by last week’s away goal – looked to probe a defence weakened by the absence of Gers’ suspended left-back Jon Flanagan and cup-tied new signing Borna Barisic.
It was a mistake from skipper James Tavernier which quickened the Scots’ heart-rates but McGregor – as he was all night – was there to rescue the situation as he pushed away Tavares’ effort.
The clock only showed 18 minutes at that point but there were further scares for the 700 travelling fans in an agonisingly slow first period.
Andy Halliday was plugging the leftback slot but the nervy converted-midfielder was grateful to see a couple of misjudgments go unpunished, while Nikola Katic did well to put off Sasa Ivkovic as he met an Amir Dervisevic corner six yards out.
Dervisevic almost caught Rangers offguard as he lined-up a free-kick 30 yards from goal.
The Slovenian international whipped a free-kick towards the top corner. Once again McGregor was on his toes, pulling off another vital stop.
Scott Arfield spooned over just before the break, while Halliday had the ball in the net three minutes into the second half but Alfredo Morelos had run the ball out of play in the build-up.
Jamie Murphy wasted another chance for Gers after being sent clear by Morelos, while the Ljudski groaned as another deflected Dervisevic effort went close.
Connor Goldson’s refusal to be beaten in the air was becoming key for the visitors as he rebuffed cross after cross.
The tense atmosphere grew even more hostile as Belgian referee Jonathan Lardot stopped the game briefly to collect an array of objects that had rained down towards McGregor as he took a goal kick.
But the Gers keeper continued to defy the home support, pulling off a wonder block at point-blank range as Aleks Pihler nodded down for Tavares.
There was one last fright for Gers in added time as Goldson gave away a penalty with a trip on Luka Zahovic, but McGregor again refused to be beaten as he blocked Tavares’ strike with his legs.