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Irish Mirror

Sport

Robbie Copeland

TV pundits left asking questions after Rangers draw to PSV

Rangers PSV Antonio Colak Alfredo Morelos Kenny Miller Ally McCoist Leon Balogun Neil McCann Derek McInnes James Sands

Ally McCoist said he was "surprise" that Gio van Bronckhorst didn't turn to forward Alfredo Morelos during Rangers' 2-2 draw with PSV. But he agreed with his fellow pundit Kenny Miller that Antonio Colak had his best game in a blue shirt.

Rangers finished their clash 2-2 with Ruud van Nistelrooy's team at Ibrox to set up a shootout in Eindhoven with a Champions League group stage place on the line. And it was full of event and talking points with Colak finishing off a wonderful passing move before the two sides traded blows to finish with honours even.

After Ibrahim Sangare bundled in an equaliser, Tom Lawrence thought he'd won it late in the second half when he forced a clanger from visiting keeper Walter Benitez - but Armando Obispo popped up with a header to keep the tie finely poised ahead of next week's second leg.

Ally McCoist

McCoist admits he still isn't fully convinced by Colak who he feels doesn't provide the same link up play as Morelos does. But he does admit the Croatian's display in Tuesday's clash, where he netted his fourth in four games, was his best yet.

He said: "Yes (it was his best performance,), but it still doesn't look like he wants to link up an awful lot. Morelos would give you more of that. But four goals in four games and probably one against Livingston that should have counted, so he's got a goal return."

"Yes. It's the first thing I said after the game, I was a little bit surprised. However, I'll be even more surprised if we don't see him in the second leg."

With James Sands standing in for the injured John Souttar and Ben Davies seemingly not fancied, McCoist also admitted he'd like to see Leon Balogun brought back to the club. He went on: "I mentioned that before the first goal, Rangers looked small. PSV looked big, and I thought set plays were going to be important. Sands isn't a natural centre-back, would Balogun have made a difference?

"He's sitting up in the stands watching Rangers on Saturday, I'm not sure I would have let him go. Souttar has injuries, you know, Helander, obviously.

"Perhaps there is (a case to bring Balogun back), it's not hindsight, I was surprised to see him go, I really was. I tell you what, we could have done with him tonight. He's got height, he's got a presence, and scored goals in Europe."

Kenny Miller

On Colak, Miller was full of praise, insisting Van Bronckhorst can't ask for any more from his No.9. Rangers' defending, however, didn't get the same praise.

"It's a fair result. Both teams were evenly matched, both had their spells. Giovanni will be disappointed at losing two goals from set plays, but that being said, they were handed a second goal by the goalkeeper. Fair result. I don't think anyone did enough to win it.

"Rangers showed against Dortmund last season they can go away from home and score goals. But they'll have to defend better and be aware of the aerial threat. Taking it back there with a draw, PSV will be pretty pleased.

"(The first PSV goal) was very scrappy. It ricochets between Tavernier's legs and it's scooped in. Very scrappy goal. But they've not defended properly and it's cost them."

"He's given his all and that's why Morelos has sat on the bench and not come on for him. It was Colak's best game for the team since he's come in, for me. It's still early days, but there's no doubt he's settled quickly; four goals, four games, you can't ask for any more.

Derek McInnes

"Rangers couldn't really get up the pitch (in the second half) and PSV got more confidence. Rangers got the goal, and you take that any day, but their failure to defend set plays again is disappointing.

"The natural height difference played its part, evidenced in both goals. Rangers will be pleased with their performance but there's more to come from them and they'll have to be better over there. It is only half time in the tie but I felt Rangers never really sustained any pressure to get the fans going. "

Neil McCann

Gers might have had a first half penalty with claims right-back Jordan Teze handled it in the area. And McCann reckons it was a lucky escape for the Dutch side.

"Looking at it now, it probably hits him on the sleeve up near the shoulder area so you probably find it is the right decision. But I think there's real intent by the defender. Rangers got a really soft penalty against Union SG with a crazy defensive mistake out of nowhere to get the penalty for Tavernier.

"This was equally as bad. I think there was real intent there, maybe not to handle the ball, but certainly to impede the header for Goldson. And I think he's really fortunate to get away with it with where the ball strikes him."