Knockout stage within reach as Gerrard’s men rise to the occasion with a performance worthy of the big stage

THE points were shared but all the plaudits go to Rangers. The wait for an away win in the group stage goes on for Steven Gerrard, but he will rightly take pride at this result and performance.

Rangers find themselves second at the halfway stage of Group G thanks to this draw in Porto and can now look forward to the remaining three matches. A knockout berth is in their sights and within their reach.

Alfredo Morelos’ 16th goal of the season earned Rangers a point after Luis Diaz had put Porto ahead. It was no more than Rangers deserved.

Many would have written them off here but the optimistic mood in the camp was not misplaced. This was a showing that can only raise those levels going forward.

There was a quiet confidence and belief about Gerrard when he spoke at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday. He had faith in his players, but he needed those he trusted with a jersey to have that same swagger about them when they took to the park.

Gerrard insisted Rangers would not be fearful of Porto or feel inferior to their hosts and said this was an arena that should inspire the Ibrox side rather than daunt them. On the big stage, Rangers rose to the occasion.

Every aspect of the Dragao has a touch of class about it. The walls are lined with images of Porto’s previous triumphs, while the huge bowl was quite the stage for

Rangers to take to.

The challenge of coming here is one that would pose questions for some Champions League sides but the line-up from Gerrard was further proof of his mindset. Rangers were here to do more than just compete.

The selection of Ryan Kent and Brandon Barker on the wings was a sign of their counter-attacking intentions and Porto were almost caught twice in the opening five minutes. Had Kent spotted Morelos, the Colombian could have had an early chance and the former Liverpool wide man was then denied just as he burst into shooting range.

It was clear that Porto had quality, but Rangers started brightly and showed no signs of being outplayed or outclassed. Gerrard would have been pleased with what he witnessed from the touchline, while the almost 3,000-strong travelling support were making themselves heard high up in the stands.

In contrast, a chorus of boos at the interval from the home crowd said it all about how tight the action had been.

Rangers more than merited being level at that stage. There was a let-off after seven minutes when Ze Luis saw a terrific header hit the post but an Alex Telles freekick was as close as Porto would come for some time.

Rangers were comfortable for long periods but didn’t carry that much threat of their own. James Tavernier spurned their best chance as he went for power rather than placement and fired over at the end of a neat move involving Borna Barisic and Morelos.

When the goal did arrive, it was a moment worthy of any fixture. The mistake from Ryan Jack was uncharacteristic and proved costly for Rangers as a slack pass was picked up by Diaz.

The winger shifted to his right and then curled a perfectly placed strike into the top corner of Allan McGregor’s net. On the angle, it was just out of reach of the keeper and another harsh reminder for Gerrard’s side how individual errors are punished at this level.

The reaction from Rangers was positive, though. The equaliser was just as befitting the stage as Morelos scored the goal that puts him behind only Ally McCoist on Rangers’ all-time European list.

The flick from Kent out to Barisic was deft but incisive and the Croat produced a first-time cross that took out Pepe and Ivan Marcano. Morelos gathered the ball and kept his composure as he found the top corner with a clinical finish that gave Rangers something more tangible than just hope heading into the second half.

It was the same two players who combined shortly after the restart. A cross to the back post from Barisic was tantalising and Morelos got a good connection on it, but the save from Agustin Marchesin was excellent as Rangers were denied.

The home crowd may not have been here in huge numbers, but their unhappiness was clear as Rangers continued to look dangerous. With half-an-hour to go, Porto were there for the taking.

Gerrard’s side were playing with confidence as they knocked the ball about well, yet they could take nothing for granted. Porto were still capable of threatening but Gerrard’s side looked comfortable.

Clear chances were proving harder to come by and Jack came close after Tavernier cut back a freekick to him at the edge of the box. A set-piece from Barisic was just too high before Porto almost won it.

McGregor had rarely been tested since the break but two quickfire stops showed how important he is as he denied Francisco Soares and Moussa Marenga to earn a point.

The Dragao crowd again jeered and whistled. The Rangers fans sang in appreciation and celebration.

Far steadier performance from the under-pressure Rangers captain who recovered from an early wobble to put in a solid display down the right side.

Marshalled the defence well and looked comfortable in possession.

Still trying to prove he deserves to start ahead of Nikola Katic and this commanding performance won’t have done his reputation any harm at all.

Terrific assist for Alfredo Morelos’ equaliser and another brilliant delivery after the break plopped right on Morelos’ head who saw his effort saved. Booked.

Recovered from a difficult first half to put in another solid showing in his first game for three weeks. Booked before loose pass presented Diaz with the opening goal.

Busy in the centre of the park as Rangers looked to stem Porto’s attacking prowess while adding a threat of their own. Experience vital.

Struggled to make an impact and was sometimes sloppy in possession.

A surprise starter, the former Manchester City winger was always busy but failed to create any significant openings.

Continues to impress at this level. Moments after striking the crossbar with a header, the Colombian showed great composure to put Rangers level late and saw second-half header well saved.

IT’S okay not to be okay. Words we have all become familiar with in recent times through sad and grim necessity.

Football in Scotland has long been a focal point for men to come together, while paradoxically, being the main vehicle of a culture that encourages a toxic brand of masculinity. Historically, it was the ultimate expression of a culture that actively discouraged men from expressing themselves.

Man up, don’t be a blouse, the little things we have probably all told our pals at one point or another. Not through malice or a lack of compassion, but just borne from a discomfort in discussing our feelings. No talking please, we’re Scottish.

Mercifully, that has all changed of late, with football clubs at the forefront of efforts to encourage their fans to talk, to seek help if they are having problems with their mental health or suicidal thoughts. Nowhere is this more apparent than at Motherwell.

A beautifully made, and incredibly poignant, BBC Scotland documentary by Wishaw filmmaker Chris Clements aired on

Wednesday night, exploring what the local Lanarkshire press had dubbed an “epidemic” of suicides among young men in the Motherwell and Wishaw area over the past year.

It hit home particularly for me as I was born and bred in the area, but it would have struck a chord with anyone who has watched a friend or a family member going through difficult times or who has lost a loved one to suicide.

I never knew any of the “Lost Boys” of the programme’s title, because horrifyingly, they were all much younger than me. These were guys in their teens or early twenties. Friends of friends or neighbours of acquaintances, whose fate you were made aware of through heartwrenching Facebook posts or by popping into your local, where in the cases of some of the older victims, you may have found out they drank there too only after they had gone.

Or by going to see your local football team and taking part in the tributes, such as the one for 22-year-old Lloyd Welsh, whose friends stood side by side on the terraces and performed the “Thunderclap” he used to take part in as a touching act of remembrance.

In such moments, you are reminded of football’s capacity to move, and also its potential to help.

The causes for the spate of suicides in the area are of course, complex, and each individual case unique. There is no one reason why this is happening. The wider societal issues of economic deprivation and high unemployment in these postindustrial towns are touched upon in the programme, as is the prevalence of alcohol or drug abuse that all too often come as part and parcel of the matchday experience for many.

But football clubs, much to their credit, are being proactive in taking positive action within their local communities.

Motherwell , for example, were the first Premiership club to have suicide prevention messages on their strips (as other local sides, Airdrie, Albion Rovers and Clyde have too), while they put out a video featuring first-team stars and the

Fir Park management team imploring their supporters to seek help if they are having suicidal thoughts or are just going through a tough time.

Other clubs have followed suit, and it is to be hoped that more still will pick up the baton and begin to deliver that message to their own supports. The biggest danger to young men in Scotland is themselves, and football has an incredible platform to directly reach that particular group.

Just as the causes of suicide are complex though, so too is finding a solution. There are those far more qualified than me, like the volunteers of the wonderful Chris’s House, a Wishaw charity featured in the documentary, who would be able to offer greater insight into what society as a whole can do to protect these young men from themselves.

But as football fans we also know the sport can play a huge role in being a positive force in this battle.

The authorities too, can play their part. The SFA, the SPFL and indeed PFA Scotland all deserve huge credit for the work they do to promote mental wellbeing among players, but perhaps they could do more to broaden that message to include supporters too.

In England, the EFL for instance have a partnership with Mind, a mental health charity, where their logo is incorporated into the names on the back of every single player’s shirt in the league pyramid. Could something similar be done here?

Football, after all, has been that temporary escape from the stresses

of life for generations. I believe it can go a step further and help fans who may be struggling outside of those 90 minutes on a Saturday, and it is heartening to see such great work being done to that end now across the country.

We have had enough of the tributes, enough minutes of applause, as touching and as heartwrenching as they are.

If football can harness the power it has to save lives, as it is starting to in Scotland, then surely that would be the greatest tribute to the memory of those we have lost from our stands.

GOOD luck to Josh Taylor as he takes on Regis Prograis in London tomorrow night. What an achievement it would be if he can be the one to emerge from the ring with his unbeaten record intact.

Comparisons to Ken Buchanan are natural, and have been gleefully relayed by his manager Barry McGuigan to anyone who would listen.

That may yet be debatable, but Buchanan himself once told me he was flattered by the comparison, and that’s good enough for me.

Scottish Championship, Aur United v Dundee - BBC Scotland 1905; UEFA Under 17 Championship qualifier, Scotland U17 v Iceland U17 - BBC Sport Website, 1800; Premier League, Southampton v Leicester - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League 1900.

World T20 qualifiers, Papua New Guinea v Singapore - Sky Sports

Cricket 0650; Namibia v Kenya - Sky Sports Cricket 1100; Oman v Canada - Sky Sports Cricket 1620.

PRO14, Ulster v Cardiff Blues - Premier Sports 1 1935, Munster v Ospreys - Premier Sports 2 1935; Premiership, Bath v Exeter - BT Sport 1 1900.

Mexican Grand Prix, practice - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports F1 1545; World Superbikes, Doha - Eurosport 2 1500.

European Tour, Portugal Masters - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 1130; PGA Tour, Zozo Championship - Sky Sports Golf 0400.

WTA, Zhuhai - BT Sport 1 0800.

European Championship - ITV4 1145 and 1800; BDO World Masters - Eurosport 1 1300 and 1900.

West Ham became the first team to score 10 goals in a League Cup match, beating Bury 10-0 in a second-round, second-leg match.

David O’Leary was announced as the manager of Leeds, replacing George Graham who had moved back to London to take charge of Tottenham.

Lewis Hamilton was crowned Formula One world champion for the third time after winning the United States Grand Prix.