Ally McCoist has talked up Union Saint Gilloise and insists he’d be happy if Rangers returned to Glasgow with a draw.
Giovanni van Bornckhorst’s side are in Belgium ahead of tonight’s Champions League third round qualifying tie first leg in Leuven and the Gers will know who awaits them if they can do the business over two legs. The draw for the playoff round takes place at 11am this morning with the Ibrox side seeded. That means they play the winners of either Dynamo Kyiv vs Sturm Graz or AS Monaco vs PSV Eindhoven for a place in the group stage.
But McCoist has warned that there’s plenty of work to be done before they can think about that, and isn’t writing off Union’s chances. They finished runners up in the Belgian Pro League last season to champions Club Brugge. McCoist has been impressed with their pre-season form too, which saw them dismantle Dutch giants Feyenoord 4-0.
Rangers will go into the game without winger Ryan Kent. He went over on his ankle in the latter stages of Saturday’s 2-1 Premiership opening day win at Livingston, which saw the visitors come from behind to claim all three points.
He’s been ruled out of tonight’s clash as a result. Rabbi Matondo could come in for Kent, with the Welsh wideman travelling with the squad after seemingly shaking off an injury over the weekend. But McCoist believes Kent’s absence is damaging for Rangers, and admitted he’d be satisfied if things finish all square ahead of next week’s second leg in Givan.
“They’re a good side, they ain’t bad,” he told talkSPORT. “I’m telling you right now. They had a good season last year and they've actually had a very, very good pre-season. They beat Feyenoord 4-0.
“We’re missing Ryan Kent as well, which is a big miss for us. I’d take a draw right now if you offered me a draw.”
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