Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Sporting Braga at Ibrox, a result that leaves their Europa League campaign in serious jeopardy. James Tavernier had put the home side ahead in first-half injury time after Gabri Martinez handled, a strike that took the full back level with Ally McCoist on 21 European goals for the club.
Rodrigo Zalazar was sent off for headbutting Nicolas Raskin, reducing Braga to 10 men, but Nasser Djiga then misjudged a flighted ball in difficult conditions and headed it into the path of Gabri Martinez, who equalised for the visitors.
The draw ended a seven-game European losing run for Rangers, but with only one point from five group matches and difficult fixtures still to come — trips to Ferencvaros and Porto and the visit of Ludogorets — progression to the knockout stages looks unlikely unless dramatic improvement follows.
James Tavernier reacted with a mix of disappointment and determination after the game. He said: “It feels almost like a loss,” and added: “Being a Rangers player, you have to win every single game. That’s what we have to do from now to the end of this competition.
Tavernier also stressed the need to learn from mistakes and be more clinical in key areas: “It’s definitely not over, but we have to build from this.”
On the error that allowed Braga’s equaliser, he commented: “I’ve got no complaint with Nasser, everyone makes a mistake, but we ultimately should have that game tied up before that even happens.”
He underlined the importance of patience and defensive solidity: “We have to be more patient, probing around their final third instead of trying to shoot maybe when it’s not on. I’ve spoken about it before, about being clinical in both boxes, and we’ve got to do that.
“If we keep it clean sheet, we win. That’s our aim as a team, to keep clean sheets. We should have had that in our pocket with the 10 men that we were playing against.”
Danny Rohl felt there were encouraging signs in his short time in charge but warned the team must tighten up. He said: “I think it’s disappointing but I look at the first 60 minutes. It was the first time I felt my team has been competitive in Europe. I think it’s a step forward. But in the end we have to win and close the gaps.”
Rohl acknowledged the impact of the conditions and one costly error: “In the second half, I felt we controlled the game. And then it’s one moment, we made one mistake and conceded a goal. This goal looks very cheap. I’m not looking for excuses in this case. I know in the second half the wind gave a lot of problems.”
He also reflected on the short-term nature of his time at the club and the improvements he has seen: “We have to improve to play 90 minutes at our highest level.
“You can see the table. We didn’t lose the opportunity just today. It’s about the past four games. I’ve been here for four weeks and for 60 minutes I see a big difference.”
“Today I really see the progress in our team performance. There is no question mark that it goes in the right direction. In European competition you cannot make many mistakes and this is something we have to work on.
“For me it’s not about the character of the group when I see how hard they work since I’m here, how much effort they put in. There is of course pressure, there is expectation, you have to deliver.”
Fans expressed strong criticism on social channels after the match. A sample of reactions included:
With the group now at a critical juncture, Rangers must navigate tough away fixtures and improve both defensive concentration and finishing if they are to have any realistic chance of reaching the last 16. Tavernier’s determination and Rohl’s early praise for a more competitive display give some cause for optimism, but the chorus of criticism from ex-players and supporters underlines the scale of the challenge facing the club.
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