European Despair

After the triumph of securing three points at a normally miserly Parkhead, Ibrox had been reinforced with some renewed optimism over the current state of affairs, with the excellent run in the SPL continuing and the side going seven games without defeat, and just the one draw.

However, a major obstacle still had to be negotiated in Europe, with Spanish side Osasuna enjoying the advantage after the first leg of their tie in Glasgow, and knowing Rangers had to score to keep themselves in the match.

A surprise or two were revealed prior to kick off with the news that both Boyd and Prso were on the bench, alongside Burke, with Rae, Novo and Sebo starting in Pamplona.

The formation was anyone’s guess, with some media outlets suggesting a 4-4-2, with others mooting a 4-5-1. In the end, once the game went underway, it became clear it was indeed the one up front, with Sebo charged with leading the line in solitude, and requiring to use his mobility and pace to unsettle the defensive unit of the home side.

Unfortunately, overall mobility was a property Rangers lacked throughout the entire 90 minutes, and even more disappointingly, it was not the only element missing from their play.

This Rangers performance was not the single worst display the club has produced in Europe, and being truthful it was not even close to that. But it was nevertheless one which was sadly indicting of the current poverty the club suffers in terms of genuine class. Even more depressingly, it appeared to be a throwback to Smith’s post-93 European displays in charge of Rangers, a period in which the club was routinely dispatched by the vast majority of sides it faced.

Wednesday night’s show lacked in pretty much every department. The side missed confidence and belief, with few players attaining pass marks – the cohesion and link-up needed for such a night was completely absent, along with the simple and basic need to pass the ball accurately. There was little attacking intent in evidence throughout the 90 minutes from Rangers, although at half time one would have been forgiven for thinking things were going to plan. In truth, the fact Osasuna’s ‘keeper was almost exclusively untested said much for how ineffective Rangers were over the piece.

This was a game they had to get just right; they had to bide their time before turning up the heat in the second half to get the vital goal. Regrettably, the hob never went past lukewarm.

How could Smith justify his side’s total inability to get forward significantly in a game where a goal was a must? A few decent attacks with some bite about them would have been regarded as a decent return for a tough away fixture, but this Rangers 11 simply did not get going, and this condemnation applied in the first leg too.

A lack of heart, hunger, desire and overall organisation has cost this Rangers team a place in the last eight of a major European competition. Their opponents were no great shakes, for much better sides have been overcome by this Rangers side, notably this season in Tuscany where Rangers defeated a Livorno team flying high in Serie A.

The difference was Rangers’ clear fight and intent to win.

That was crucially missing over the Osasuna tie.

The Battle is Won

Old Firm matches are often how Old Firm managers are judged. Paul Le Guen lost both of his, and Alex McLeish won a healthy number of his. Today was the turn of Walter Smith in his second spell as ‘Gers boss to manage in his first Old Firm match for nine years after previously having a fine record during the 9IAR days.

After a severe dismantling on Thursday at the hands of Osasuna in the Uefa Cup whereby a 1-1 draw was regarded as a mild get out of jail card, the Ibrox men had to gee themselves up for a visit to Parkhead where they had not won for two years. And given the East-enders’ current domestic dominance and 19 point lead in the league, hopes were not high that Rangers could even draw this one, never mind win.

Prior to kick off was the startling news that neither Burke nor Boyd would start this game, with Burke omitted from the entire squad and Boyd having to contend himself with a place on the bench. Further criticism was that once again, Smith was deploying the 4-5-1 formation which had failed so badly in midweek. And the last surprise was a start for the Slovakian black sheep Sebo, a player who has tried with honesty but failed to have an impact, and is maligned in the same way as the likes of Capucho.

So, it was with trepidation that the latest chapter in the city rivalry kicked off. The first half pretty much played as expected, with Celtic enjoying prolonged possession and an embarrassment of opportunities to score – thankfully these chances were being wasted thanks to thoroughly rotten finishing, and it was with a mixture of relief and despair that the Ibrox men made it to half time with a clean sheet. The relief was due to having ridden their luck and managing to successfully contain the Parkhead men, but the despair was down to the abject display from the away side, mirroring that poor performance at Ibrox four days earlier.

The second half saw no substitutions or obvious tactical tinkering by either side, and indeed for the first five minutes of the second period the match pretty much continued as the first had ended.

Until, that is, Ehiogu produced a marvellous overhead kick to fire the ball hard into the corner of the net beyond a despairing Boruc. It was completely against the run of play, completely unexpected, and completely delightful for the travelling fans and millions watching around the world.

From this moment onwards, the game’s dynamic polar-shifted irreconcilably to a total reverse of the first half, only more so.

From here on in, it was the men in blue who totally dominated the play, and started to produce not only explicit possession, but downright impressive play and confident passing. The goal had drained everything from Celtic, and transferred all that guile, poise, craft and confidence over to Rangers. It was now Rangers pressing, Rangers harrying, Rangers surging forward with attack after attack.

The defence looked solid and totally untroubled, and the midfield was starting to impose itself. Word must go to Sebo who never stopped running all day. During the first half he was almost embarrassingly distanced from the middle of the park and totally isolated, but never stopped trying. He even ignored the mocking chants of his name by the home fans, and worked hard running all over the place. He might never make it as a legend for Rangers, but one cannot dismiss his work-rate.

The final whistle was extremely welcome for Rangers, who, thanks to Ehiogu’s acrobatics, had earned themselves a massive step towards that second CL spot, but crucially had won at Parkhead for the first time in 24 months, and now had city bragging rights. Smith has picked up where he left off in that fixture, and some of the vultures circulating Ibrox since the previous two games have suddenly flown away.

Now, a visit to Pamplona awaits…