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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mya Bollan

What the Rangers pundits said as fizzing Kenny Miller brands penalty 'a farce' amid Champions League woe

Things didn't quite go to plan for Rangers on Tuesday evening.

Gio van Bronckhorst' s men now have it all to do at Ibrox as they welcome Union Saint Gilliose to Govan next week for the second leg of the Champions League third round qualifier. The Light Blues have just 90 minutes to turn it all around - albeit a little more and possibly penalties if the tie finishes even - with their Champions League group stage hopes a little further out of reach than they were before kick off on Tuesday. But who can rule out a turnaround at Ibrox? Not many, if past clashes are anything to go by.

And the Gers pundits reckon GVB and his side can still do it, despite a disappointing display. There is a lot to work on, though, with the likes of Kenny Miller, Alan Hutton and Richard Foster having a fair share of points to discuss after the final whistle in Belgium.

Kenny Miller

"How can it be intentional? It doesn't make sense. That ball is going towards the goal and deflects back off Connor Goldson's hand. It's a farce.

"(Rangers) came into the game full of optimism, a potential Champions League return, and the performance was really sub-standard. Back to Ibrox now, it's never over.

"It is half-time of the tie but there is no doubt they will be calling on every one of the 50,000 next week to turn up and cheer them on to make a historic comeback.

"These big games at this stage of the season where there is no doubt the players are not up to speed. The fact that Union are a couple of games into their league season, they'll be a little bit ahead, a little bit sharper, a little bit more corrected in regards to their teammates and who they're playing alongside.

"It is a whole new frontline tonight for Rangers. There was no real cohesion, I thought they were looking a bit static, no movement from upfront or even midfield going beyond.

"It was a real down performance compared to the levels you expect from this Rangers team. I would say, as a team overall, they were pretty poor tonight."

The pundits were keen to have their say on the controversial hand ball decision which saw the hosts double their lead from the spot, with Goldson was handed a yellow following a VAR check.

"I'm not even going to sit here and try to pretend I know what the hand ball rule is now. Natural? Unnatural? It doesn't even make sense. What is natural for one, might now be completely unnatural for the next guy. I don't know what he (Goldson) has done wrong. It is a ridiculous decision."

Alan Hutton

"It was really flat. I think it was really passive as well. Just kind of side to side. There were no penetrating runs, nobody wants to go beyond. And defensively tonight I think Rangers were quite poor.

"The one positive thing that comes out of it is that it can only get better. I think this has been a poor night for Rangers in general. They've got a lot of work to do but they've got plenty of time to do it.

"He (Gio van Bronckhorst) tried to come out with a certain game plan. Did it work? Not for me.

"The formation change to kind of match Union up. I don't think that worked either. Overall, he will be disappointed with his team's work."

Richard Foster

"We could tell a goal was coming in the first-half. It's the same in the second, albeit a lucky penalty decision. But it's been nothing but Union pressure. Rangers haven't done anything.

"The worrying thing for me was there was an acceptance about it. The players weren't getting at each other.

"They never put in any tackles. There was no-one taking charge of the game. Rangers are more than capable of coming back in this tie, but they're going to need to do something."

Mark Hateley

"It was a poor, poor show. Weak and blunt. We don't even know if Union's back three are any good.

"Is the goalkeeper any good? We don't know. Union figured Rangers out after 25 minutes.

"You could see a second goal coming all second-half. Then you worry about the third goal.

"Colak, for me, was a waste of time. If Morelos is playing there, the ball goes into him. Colak didn't demand the ball."

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