Rangers' European Exit Deepens Ibrox Disquiet
Rangers' Europa League campaign came to an end on Thursday as they drew 1-1 at Ibrox with Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok, losing the tie 3-2 on aggregate. A 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Poland had left Rangers needing a win, and they initially levelled the aggregate score when captain Lawrence Shankland converted a penalty in the 19th minute. However, Nik Prelec scored a deserved equaliser for the visitors in the 65th minute, and the home side could not find a winner despite changes in formation, according to The Guardian. The report adds that boos rang out at full time as fans expressed frustration at a "dismal" start to the season.
McInnes, who took over from Hearts in the summer, has yet to register a competitive win in four matches. The Guardian reports that his tenure is "in disarray" and that the performance was "disjointed". Rangers now drop into the Conference League playoff round, where they will face Czech club Jablonec.
The club's Scottish rivals Hearts also bowed out of the Europa League, albeit with more pride. Hearts drew 1-1 with Benfica at home, having lost 6-1 in the first leg. Tomas Magnusson scored for Hearts in the 77th minute, but Dodi Lukébakio equalised a minute later, sealing a 7-2 aggregate win for the Portuguese giants, who made seven changes from the first leg. Hearts will face Rapid Vienna in the Conference League playoffs.
Hibernian, however, progressed. They defeated Shkendija 2-1 on aggregate after a 0-0 draw in the second leg in the Todor Proeski National Arena. Manager David Gray praised his players for "an incredible achievement" despite the conditions, and the Edinburgh club now face Belgian side Gent in the Conference League playoffs.
Jablonec First-Leg Win: A Mixed Night
Ahead of the second leg, Rangers had taken a narrow lead thanks to a 1-0 win in the first leg at Ibrox, as the only goal came was from Ryan Naderi. That match, as reported by BBC Scotland, was men far from straightforward. Cammy Devlin, who came on as a late substitute, was sent off after a "ridiculous" lunge, but his dismissal had little consequences in the triumph, as Jablonec were "organized but unthreatening".
The win took McInnes's record to two wins in two games, but that was no why the match was "far from straightforward". The BBC report made that half-time whistles had been replaced by no booing at full time, but the article notes the first half lacked "movement and cleverness". The positives included a clean sheet, industry from Djeidi Gassama and James Penrice, and Assured defending from Olwethu Makhanya. However, the match was widely regarded as a dull and workmanlike display that lacked inspiration.
Before that first leg, the club invest much in the team, with the article reporting that owners had spent close to £50-60 million on new players since last summer. But the club's performances have also been marred by a lack of creativity, and the comes was not avoid criticism. For instance, at Ibrox, it was reported that about 15,000 empty seats were present, and an hour after the final whistle, the only sound was the humming of grass cutters.
Jablonec Clash: Coverage
Rangers now travel to the Czech Republic for the second leg of the Conference League playoff. The match is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, with a kick-off at 5pm UK time. As per Daily Record, no broadcaster has picked up the game, but it will be available for streaming on Rangers TV on a pay-per-view basis for £10.99, with purchases required at least 90 minutes before start. Rangers hold a one-goal lead, and avoiding defeat will ensure Rangers a place in the group stage of the competition.
Daily Record also reports that the game is a "do or die" for the club, which is seeking to avoid a season without European football, and the piece outlines live blog and post-match coverage as well.
Views: Mixed Morale in the Rangers Camp
The dispatch at Ibrox reveals a concern: despite a win, doubts over the team's ability to inspire were prevalent,
BBC's chief sports writer described Devlin's late red card as "ridiculous" and "needless", and said the team are "not a smart team" and "lacking the inspiration". They also expressed that "[Rangers] should put them out next week" but noted there are no guarantees. The broader coverage includes a critical tone that points to the team's lack of coaching and individual mistakes.
On the other hand, Daily Record focuses on the matches and a viewer's guide; its tone is more supportive, describing the first leg as "a slender advantage" and using phrases such as "quest and". The article sees "do or die" and "make or break" as result of the narrow margin.
Conclusion
As Rangers prepare for the second leg against Jablonec, the club is desperate for a success.
The Guardian's report concludes with "The disheartened start to the season", the pressure on McInnes this,
While first leg gave a ray of hope with a 1-0 win, the road ahead remains challenging and the winless run in the league is a matter of concern for the Ibrox faithful.