MONARCH OF THE GLENN

The introduction of Middleton was a masterstroke from boss Gerrard

GOOD character, a refusal to allow your head to drop. To show no fear and have an ability to keep going in the face of adversity are now traits written all over this Rangers side.

All leadership qualities and all the more remarkable given my belief that Steven Gerrard’s team are still lacking a midfield general.

Someone who can control the tempo, a presence who dictates play, but I will get to that later. Let’s start with the positives of a brilliant Europa League point in Spain.

It’s been a long time since Rangers have been involved in this type of European scene. I have friends who travelled to the game and you could see the levels of excitement.

The Champions League is still an ambition which is a bit away yet so the Europa League is the next best thing and a sign of real progression.

To be a goal down after a matter of seconds and show resolve to come back into the game and recover again so soon after conceding is a character which has been missing for the last few years.

Previous teams would have caved in but not this one under Gerrard.

Let’s be honest the first half was disappointing. Villarreal were good on the ball, they were everything you would expect from a side who finished fifth in La Liga last season in terms of their technical ability. That said they didn’t look like a side who would continually cut Rangers open.

At half-time I was hoping Gerrard would get into his players and tell them to have more of a go and clearly that’s been the case. Although Villarreal had control in the opening 45 minutes I saw a Spanish side who were there for the taking and Gerrard’s words at the break did the trick.

Rangers were more direct, he made a few substitutions and managed to get at them.

I like Lassana Coulibaly, Andy Halliday and Scott Arfield but they aren’t players who will dictate play or set the tempo.

Gerrard still needs a big presence in midfield who will call the shots but ironically it was left to a kid to make the biggest impact.

The introduction of Glenn Middleton was a masterstroke as he changed the dynamic within the side immediately.

It was midway through that second half I thought this tie was there for Rangers and they could have won it at the end with Arfield’s chance.

As the game went on there can be no doubt they deserved to take something out of it.

Villarreal did have chances before Arfield equalised the first time but you expect a side of that quality to do that. There were two guilt-edged chances in particular which had me in a state of high anxiety.

But when Gers went at the Spaniards they created their own opportunities and the moves which brought the two goals were as good a team goal as any you will see in Europe this week.

The first involving James Tavernier, Daniel Candeias and Arfield was a lesson in a side going for the jugular, the second had Middleton playing in Borna Barisic for Kyle Lafferty to finish. Brilliant team goals and of real quality.

This is a Rangers team who will cause anyone problems when they are direct in their approach and on Thursday night they did.

It was a performance which shows there is nothing for Rangers to fear in their Europa League group.

I’m all for respecting your opponent, Villarreal merit that given their standing in one of Europe’s top leagues, but respect is a million miles away from fear.

Gerrard and his players must take confidence from going away to a difficult venue in Europe and coming home with a point. The second-half performance was so heartening.

I hear people saying they could have lost the game at the end when Bacca missed with a header but they could also have nicked it.

That is European football all over, you need to have a bit of luck but that luck has to be earned and there were times during the game that my heart was in my mouth.

Villarreal are technically a very good side, maybe not a top team but a side who have a quality capable of competing with the best and that’s why Rangers should be feeling very good about themselves.

Nobody needs to tell me how difficult it is to play away games in Europe and get results. I played in enough of them to know it’s a huge ask.

But look at someone like young Middleton who wasn’t fazed by the occasion as he made a major impact when he came on immediately after Villarreal’s second goal and put the full-back under pressure straight away as he was booked for a foul.

It was only after Middleton came on that Ryan Kent started to influence the game which was telling for me.

The bulk of this Rangers side haven’t played in European competition before so they are gaining valuable experience and will learn a lot from this adventure.

It will be interesting to see how they cope with playing games on a Thursday and a Sunday as that will also be new to them and it will need to be coped with.

I look at this Rangers side and I see a performance which could have been better but I also see a team capable of digging themselves out of a hole and all Light Blue supporters should be delighted with that.

Gerrard’s words at the break did the trick and Rangers got at Villarreal