Rangers crashed out of the Conference League after a dire penalty shoot-out defeat to Jablonec in Czechia, losing 1-0 on the night after the tie finished level on aggregate. Vakhtang Tchanturishvili scored in the second half to level the tie, and misses from Findlay Curtis and James Penrice in the shoot-out condemned the Ibrox side to a second European elimination of the campaign.
Ropey Rangers
Rangers fans would have enjoyed Celtic's Champions League exit to LASK in Austria on Tuesday night, but their smiles were wiped off after watching their own team toil in this Conference League play-off. The truth is, Rangers were nowhere near good enough against Jablonec and are miles away from where Derek McInnes wants them to be.
Against a team of this calibre, it was a woeful performance from a group of players who look incapable of stepping up to bring success back to the club. This tie against a bang-average Czech side should have been taken care of comfortably, but being taken to a penalty shoot-out was an indictment in itself, and serious questions will be asked of the players and the manager.
McInnes mix and match
Since taking over as Gers boss, fans have got used to McInnes making a lot of changes either game-to-game or during matches. Ironically, the manager stuck with the same starting 11 here from last Thursday's first-leg win - the first time he's done that in consecutive games. But by half-time, McInnes had to do another pick-and-mix due to his team's lacklustre display.
It was no surprise after Rangers had failed to create a single clear-cut chance or test Jablonec's keeper - so you couldn't blame him for hooking a few players who had grossly under-performed. He didn't just take off skipper Dan Neil, and wingers Daisuke Yokota and Djeidi Gassama - he changed Gers' entire shape and system. He switched to a 3-5-2 formation, with Curtis going to right wing-back, Connor Barron slotting into midfield and Lawrence Shankland joining Ryan Naderi up front. With more changes before the end, young Curtis played FOUR different positions after coming off the bench.
Torrid time for Tochi
McInnes pushed Tochi Chukwuani into a more advanced role in support of Naderi up front but it just didn't work. The Dane claimed this week that Rangers fans have still to see the best of him - and they're still waiting. It's still difficult to know what type of midfielder Chukwuani is and he had a torrid first 45 minutes here.
He was up there with Naderi for his power and physical presence but failed to showcase any of that. He was losing battles with Jablonec's little Richard Sedlaceck, who is about half his size. The ball didn't stick with him and he offered very little creativity. Along with Naderi, the pair of them were supposed to press the home side's defence but it was far too half-hearted and as an attacking duo they were completely ineffective. Chukwuani was eventually moved back into midfield where he fared little better.
A painful Jab
Czech side Jablonec aren't world beaters by any stretch but they've got a spirit and desire about them which was evident from the first whistle here. And with Rangers toiling to get any control in the game - or looking remotely likely to score a goal and win the tie - you always felt the home side would carve out a chance to level it up.
Their goal on 73 minutes was in the post with the visitors constantly turning over possession. This stadium might only hold around 6,000 fans but they made some racket when Vakhtang Tchanturishvili buried his opportunity to make it 1-1 on aggregate. Rangers' defending was poor, as James Penrice was too easily turned inside the box, then defenders were so deep they blocked the view of keeper Ivor Pandur. It was a shoddy goal to concede but the Czechs weren't caring as they grabbed their chance and sensed an upset.
Need more from Naderi
Rangers' big German striker might have got the winning goal in the first-leg at Ibrox but he never looked like following it up here with another. In fact, with the club about to sign £9 million man Kevin Kelsy from Portland Timbers to replace Youssef Chermiti - Naderi's place up front will now be under serious threat.
He puts a shift in for the team by running channels and occupying opposition defenders. But McInnes needs more from his centre-forward in terms of hold-up play, keeping the ball and looking dangerous in front of goal. Against Jablonec, Naderi showed none of those qualities, either with Chukwuani or Shankland up beside him. Too many times, he gifted cheap possession to the Czechs or he would make the wrong run by not being on the same wavelength as his team-mates.
