news-engine

Rangers rattled in Europa League frightener as demented Derek McInnes faces Ibrox judgement night – 5 talking points The Ibrox side have it all to do in the return leg at Ibrox next Thursday night The Jagiellonia fans unveiled an Iron Man tifo before kick-off. And during the game, Rangers didn’t have the steel required to prevent a Europa League defeat. The only thing to marvel at was Bialystok’s winger, Kajetan Szmyt, who helped himself to a brace for the home side. Gers have been in this movie before, with the loss in Poland their NINTH European away game in a row without a win. And until boss Derek McInnes sorts out a new Rangers cast list, these types of games will only have one ending. His side failed to perform at the Chorten Arena - despite taking an early lead through Guilherme Montoia’s own goal. After that, Gers were woeful defensively and well short on resilience as the Poles secured a deserved first-leg victory. McInnes’ men improved after the break and sub Findlay Curtis hit the post late on. McInnes - who gave Daisuke Yokota and Vanja Dragojevic debuts and left skipper Lawrence Shankland on the bench - will hope to further strengthen his squad before the return game at Ibrox next Thursday. Not Poles apart Rangers endured a bad night in Bialystok but this tie is far from over and McInnes will know that. Jagiellonia are a decent outfit with a couple of players who possess real quality. Backed by a raucous home crowd, they merited their win because they played with a real desire and determination all night. But they can be got at and Rangers had chances to get level here in the second half. There isn’t a lot between the sides and McInnes will fully believe his team can turn it around in the second-leg at Ibrox. He got another couple of new boys minutes in their legs and young Curtis’ performance in the second half was a positive for them in defeat. His new-look squad have another week to get ready for the second-leg and they should be better by then. If Gers perform anywhere near their best at home, they should still go through. Demented Del At times here, McInnes was pulling his hair out on the touchline at his players’ defending and decision. The two goals they conceded infuriated the Rangers manager. The first one was rank rotten defensively as Ross McCrorie didn’t do enough to stop a cross then no-one in a blue shirt took responsibility to go and clear it as it drifted past Ivor Pandur. But Jagiellonia’s second made him even more angry. Dan Neil had a simple pass on to McCrorie after a neat move got Gers into the final third - but chose to play an awkward ball into Thelo Aasgaard. He tried a fancy flick on the edge of the box that didn’t come off and suddenly the Poles were on the counter. Seconds later, the ball was in Rangers’ net after a slip by Emmanuel Fernandez - and McInnes was left livid in the dug-out. Daisuke debut Gers’ new Japanese winger Daisuke Yokota was only signed 48 hours before the game but McInnes threw him in at the deep end with a European debut. The 26-year-old filled a gaping hole on the right of Rangers’ attack with no wide man at the club comfortable on that side. Yokota tried to get involved early on and you could see how keen he is to cut in off the flank on to his left-foot. He also wasn’t afraid to drift away from his position and try to affect the game from a more central area. But it was a difficult night for him to make his bow for the club having barely spent any time with his new team-mates. He looks lively enough and technically gifted so he should be able to offer McInnes something different on that wing. But he couldn’t make much of an impact here and was hooked at half-time. Captain Dan It was a big call from McInnes to leave out his new Rangers skipper Lawrence Shankland for such a big European away tie. Shankland’s absence meant someone else had to take the armband off him early in his captaincy. McInnes gave it to summer signing Dan Neil, who arrived from Sunderland to anchor Rangers’ midfield. He’s renowned for his passing ability but it wasn’t up to scratch against the Poles. He was too loose in possession and his poor ball to Aasgaard led to Jagiellonia’s second goal. If Neil’s passing isn’t on point, he doesn’t offer much protection in a physical sense to his back four - resulting in a tough night for Rangers’ new number six who was replaced at the break by Nico Raskin who took the captaincy. Silky Szmyt Rangers had a problem all night trying to deal with Jagiellonia winger Kajetan Szmyt who had a major influence on this game. The Polish wide man gave full-back Ross McCrorie a torrid time on the left flank and grabbed two first-half goals for the home sde. At times, Szmyt would hug the touchline, saying high and wide. But when he got the ball, he wasn’t afraid to drive inside and make an impact. He was allowed to cut in too easily by McCrorie for their first and produced a delicious cross that beat the entire Rangers defence to go in. That might have involved element of luck but his second didn’t. His reactions were razor sharp in the box after Jesus Imaz’s shot was saved to bury the chance and put his side in front. He was a constant threat and neither Rangers, or McCrorie, could handle him.