Kranjcar rolls back years

Midfielder pulls strings as former Don Jack makes debut in first-leg win

Rangers made a winning start as they brought their six-year European hiatus to an end with a narrow 1-0 win against Progres Niederkorn at Ibrox.

But it was an underwhelming Europa League beginning as Kenny Miller's first-half winner saw Gers scrape a first-leg win against their opening qualifying round opponents from Luxembourg.

Manager Pedro Caixinha started with three of his eight summer signings as defender Fabio Cordoso, former Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack and wide player Dalcio helped get the firstleg tie under way.

But it was Niko Kranjcar – finally back after his eight-month knee injury nightmare – who ran the show for the hosts, spraying passes one way and the other.

The fevered Ibrox faithful reacted to last week's news of a peace deal with Sports Direct chief Mike Ashley by snapping up both kits and tickets in their thousands.

They turned the volume all the way up as the home side strode out into the sold-out stadium

It took Gers time to get warmed up but the longer the opening half went, the more Jack and Kranjcar began to pull the strings.

It was the midfield duo who produced the game's first two chances, with Jack seeing his effort blocked before the Croat flashed wide. But he wasted a great chance 23 minutes in and skewed his header wide from James Tavernier's dangerous ball to the back post.

Bates shot over from a Kranjcar corner but, just as blue nerves started to jangle, the former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder spotted the crucial chink in Progres' armour.

The minnows conceded a free kick on the edge of their own box and, as they jogged back into position, Kranjcar took the set-piece quickly, releasing Miller to slot past Sebastian Flauss.

But Flauss did better as he parried a Kranjcar effort and a diving Cordoso header before the break.

Miller tugged wide early in the second period but there was a heart-in-mouth moment as Alexander Karapetian was left all alone to fire straight at Wes Foderingham.

Gers were failing to make the most of their huge possession numbers but even the introduction of another new signing, Daniel Candeias, did little to up the intensity levels.

Kranjcar bowed out with 23 minutes left and was replaced by Jordan Rossiter as he returned after an even longer injury lay-off.

Colombian attacker Alfredo Morelos was introduced with quarter of an hour left for his Light Blues bow but, with no further gains Caixinha's team will have to hope their slender lead is enough to see them through on Tuesday.