Gerrard calls on fans to noise up Porto

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has urged both players and fans to pile the pressure on Porto at Ibrox tonight.

Rangers are looking to build on their impressive performance in Portugal two weeks ago as they begin the second half of their Europa League group campaign.

Gerrard claimed before the 1-1 draw that Porto were favourites to top the group and feels they will still be expected to do so despite sitting two points off leaders Young Boys on four points along with Rangers.

But after taking the game to Porto for much of the second half in the Estadio do Dragao, Gerrard wants his side to make the most of their

“They thrive on and love European nights”

home advantage today.

“I don’t think the situation has changed just because of the 1-1 result,” he said.

“There will be huge pressure on Porto to win the game, there will be huge pressure on Porto to finish top of the group. I don’t think that’s going to change. But that doesn’t affect what we are going to do, we just need to focus on us.”

Ibrox will be full again for a European encounter after a 3,000seat section was closed for their previous two home games following Uefa sanctions over sectarian chants.

And Gerrard wants the supporters to raise the volume.

He added: “They thrive on and love European nights, especially when a big game is in town.

“You saw that in the Feyenoord game and over the 18 months I have been here, the fans have been incredible. But what I’d say is we need that plus more. I want to rev them up.”