The big picture of obvious progress at Rangers does not resonate on nights such as this. Whereas a year ago a European campaign had long since been ended by opposition from Luxembourg, Steven Gerrard has taken Rangers to the point where the Europa League’s knockout phase is at the very least possible.
Still, on an occasion where Rangers – clearly the superior side – were held by Spartak Moscow, frustration was palpable. What Gerrard’s men provided in effort they lacked in ruthlessness. “I think we did enough to marginally win the game,” Gerrard said. “The players are disappointed, so that’s a positive. It shows how far we have come. From losing to a team from Luxembourg, we have come on leaps and bounds.”
Spartak had appeared favourable opposition for Rangers, even before Gerrard’s impressive start to management in Europe was considered. The Russian side had sacked their coach in the buildup, just as Rapid Vienna did before losing at Ibrox earlier this month.
Rangers have been formidable at home, thanks in large part to starting games in a positive fashion. With that in mind the tame opening was curious. Rangers’ menace arrived from the Liverpool loanee Ryan Kent but the visitors were relatively comfortable in an opening 20 minutes devoid of goalmouth action.
Rangers’ first sight of goal should have provided the opener. Daniel Candeias had two viable options: to go himself or present Lassana Coulibaly with a golden chance. Instead the winger fluffed his lines, floating the ball over the head of Coulibaly.
Spartak succeeded in turning the game back into a scrap before the break. With Kent now heavily shackled each time he took possession, Rangers reached the interval without making the progress that has become typical for them at home.
Things were not any prettier as the second half began. Spartak at least displayed an element of attacking intent and might have found a goal had Roman Zobnin properly connected with a cutback from Sofiane Hanni rather than sclaffing his effort skywards.
With half an hour to go, Gerrard had an important call to make. Sunday’s League Cup semi-final tie against Aberdeen presents the possibility of Rangers edging closer to a first trophy since 2011. As Rangers battled and laboured against Spartak, he surely had priorities in mind. Alfredo Morelos almost lightened his manager’s mood with a 62nd-minute snap shot that was unwittingly cleared by a Spartak defender. Ibrox groaned once more.
As Morelos flashed the ball across goal with no one on hand to tap home, Gerrard decided to twist. Enter Eros Grezda, an Albanian wide man, in place of the more defensively orientated Ryan Jack. Spartak, who had never been totally devoid of ideas, soon fired a warning as the lively Hanni stung the palms of Allan McGregor. In Grezda’s first action he lost his footing when seeking to collect Morelos’s scraps in front of goal.
The closing moments saw a cup tie break out. Nikolai Rasskazov was the next to trouble McGregor, with a curling shot that flew narrowly wide. Grezda appealed in vain for a penalty, seconds before James Tavernier shot wildly over the Spartak crossbar. Grezda did likewise with the final act of the game. It was that kind of night.
Rangers still have considerable work to do to emerge from Group G. That their unbeaten run in Europe stretched to 11 matches felt like scant consolation.
