‘Morelos needs new deal’
● Goalkeeper saves penalty in outstanding display as Ibrox club book place in Europa League play-off round
MARIBOR 0 RANGERS 0
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is ready to reward Alfredo Morelos with a new contract after warning Bordeaux not to bother making a fresh bid for the colombian.
The Ibrox side claimed a 0-0 draw in Maribor to book a slot in the Europa League play-offs – but Gerrard’s preparations were disrupted on the eve of the clash in Slovenia when he received a £3.75 million bid for his striker from the Ligue 1 side.
The “derisory” offer was rejected but reports in France say Bordeaux are to make a second bid.
Gerrard said: “It’s the right decision to reject it, it’s nowhere near high enough. It’s a player we don’t want to sell. Teams can’t think they can knock at our door and pinch our best players for derisory bids. It’s not going to happen. I want him to stay. I want him to sign a new deal on improved terms and help the rest of us be successful.
“I’m wise enough to know that every player has a price – but the message to Bordeaux is we don’t want to sell. If they want the player then they need to show some respect and come blow us out the water with a massive, massive bid. Otherwise, don’t pick the phone up.”
Rangers held their nerve in Slovenia as Allan Mcgregor’s stoppage-time penalty save sealed the 0-0 draw which sees Steven Gerrard’s men progress to the Europa League play-offs.
Before the match the Rangers manager had vowed he would not park the bus and look to protect last week’s 3-1 first-leg lead.
But the Ibrox club had to grit their teeth as Maribor came for them at the Ljudski Stadion, with Mcgregor capping off a fine display as he repelled Marcos Tavares’ late spot-kick with his legs.
A 4,600-mile round trip now beckons for Rangers as they march on to face FC Ufa after the Russian side denied Rangers a shot at revenge against Progres Niederkorn for last year’s humiliating upset. Ufa scored late to draw 2-2 with Progres for a 4-3 aggregate win.
Ryan Jack was back for Rangers after ten days out with concussion but Lassana Coulibaly missed out with the strain picked up during Sunday’s win over St Mirren in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The opening stages were a test of the visitors’ bottle as the hosts – buoyed by last week’s away goal – looked to probe a defence weakened by the absence of the 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 as he pushed away Tavares’ effort.
The clock only showed 18 minutes at that point but there were further scares for the 700 travelling supporters to endure in what turned out to be an agonisingly slow first period.
Andy Halliday was plugging the left-back slot but the nervy converted midfielder was grateful to see a couple of misjudgments go unpun-
ished, while Nikola Katic did well to put off Sasa Ivkovic as he met a Amir Dervisevic corner six yards out.
Dervisevic almost caught Rangers off-guard as he linedup
a free-kick 30 yards out. A decoy runner was sent into the Rangers box from deep and as the visitors dropped back to cover, 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 Rangers 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 Rangers goalkeeper 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 the Scottish vistoris in added time as Goldson gave away a soft-looking penalty with a trip on Luka Zahovic, but Mcgregor again refused to be beaten as he blocked Tavares’ strike with his legs.