Rangers were eliminated from the Europa League after a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok, with Nik Prelec's second-half header sealing the tie. Lawrence Shankland had levelled the aggregate score with a first-half penalty, but Rangers failed to respond after the interval.
Defensive Frailties and Formation Change
Defensive mix-ups struck again, a recurring issue under Derek McInnes, who also changed the formation but could not prevent the European exit. The loss extends McInnes' winless start to his tenure, and Rangers now drop into the Conference League playoff.
Ivor Pandur made a notable double save early on to deny the Poles a 3-1 aggregate lead, but could not stop the leveller. Dujon Sterling, filling in at right-back, struggled at times, while Emmanuel Fernandez also had difficulties when the ball was turned over quickly.
Key Performances
Olwethu Makhanya lost his marker on a couple of occasions, including when the opposition hit the post. Dan Neil put in a disciplined display in midfield but ran out of steam in the second half. Nico Raskin showed ring rust as he adjusts to the new era, while Thelo Aasgaard struggled to make an impact in the attacking third.
Daisuke Yokota was a bright spot, showing pace and delivering dangerous balls, including the one that won the penalty. Djeidi Gassama showed flashes of trickery but made no impact going forward. Shankland, the captain, opened his account from the spot but lacked confidence and missed chances in the box. Ryan Naderi chased everything but could not convert his opportunities.
Substitutes Fail to Change the Game
Ross McCrorie came on at half-time as McInnes switched to a 4-4-2, but Rangers lost control. Vanja Dragojevic and Cammy Devlin made little impact, while Findlay Curtis whipped in dangerous balls without reward. Bojan Miovski missed a golden chance from point-blank range late on.
