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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andrew Newport

Rangers player ratings as Malik Tillman shines on historic Champions League night in Eindhoven

Rangers kept up their unbeaten run in Eindhoven but few of their wins will be more important than Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side who ended a 12-year wait to reach the Champions League group stage with Antonio Colak scoring the only goal in the Philips Stadium to complete a 3-2 playoff win.

It completed the Light Blues journey back from the bottom tier of Scottish football to UEFA's premier competition as they go in the hat alongside Celtic in the group stage draw in Istanbul. And last season's Europa League finalists could now be facing giants such as Real Madrid and Liverpool at Ibrox this season.

But it took a huge amount of work over two qualifying ties and they had to dig deep at times in Holland before van Bronckhorst came out on top against his old team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy. Here's how the light blue heroes rated in Holland.

JON McLAUGHLIN: Has faced his doubters but made the big save required of him as he raced off his line to stop Gakpo levelling the scores. Took his fair share of crosses to relieve pressure too. 7

JAMES TAVERNIER: Had to rein in his forward raids as he focused instead on keeping Gakpo in check but another mature display from the skipper as he led his team to a massive result. 8

CONNOR GOLDSON: Won’t be happy at allowing another free header that almost saw Sangare net at a first half corner but the ever-dependable centre-back was there when needed to make the big blocks and headers. 8

JAMES SANDS: The American is a perplexing case. Does well to read the danger signs so often yet regularly flirts with danger like when he gifted possession in his own box. All in all another steady display. 8

BORNA BARISIC: Like Tavernier he barely crossed the half-way line for long spells but keep his focus and his nerve as PSV piled on the pressure. Booked for clattering Teze. 7

JOHN LUNDSTRAM: Rifled a fraction wide as Gers came closest to opening the scoring. Harshly sent off at the weekend but had no hesitation in taking another one for the team as he wiped out Simons to cop another caution. 8

GLEN KAMARA: The Finland ace was given the nod over Steven Davis but didn’t let his boss down with a vintage display full of his trademark twists and turn. Composure so vital in first half as Gers enjoyed dominant spells. 7

TOM LAWRENCE: Shook the bar following a sublime bit of trickery on the edge of the box. Put in a big shift for his team to help put the breaks on PSV’s build-up play. 8

MALIK TILLMAN: Struggled to get into the game during the opening half but when he did get on the ball, he inevitably made something happen like when he robbed Ramalho to tee up Colak’s priceless winner. 8

RYAN KENT: Still hasn’t quite rediscovered his mojo. Repeatedly caught in possession but at least did the hard work for his side as they stood firm. Took a yellow for tripping Sangare. 6

ANTONIO COLAK: The latest Morelos melodrama put the Croat’s involvement in the spotlight but again proved there can be a life after the Colombian with his performance. Easiest of tap-ins but earned it with his relentless work rate. 8

Substitutes

SCOTT WRIGHT (for Lawrence, 73): 4 SCOTT ARFIELD (for Kamara, 73): 4 FASHION SAKALA (for Colak, 90): 2

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