BBC pundit wowed by Rangers trio in Champions League clash v Servette
Alan Hutton was left impressed by the performance of three players in particular as Rangers battled to an aggregate victory over Servette to keep their Champions League qualifying hopes on track.
The Gers led 2-1 on aggregate heading into the second leg of the third-qualifying round tie on Tuesday [15 August], only for Dereck Kutesa to level up the tie with a superb first-half strike at Stade de Geneve.
Michael Beale’s side improved after the restart and sealed their progress thanks to James Tavernier’s 50th-minute header, earning a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 win across the two legs.
Tavernier was one of those hailed by former Gers defender Hutton, along with goalkeeper Jack Butland and midfielder Nicolas Raskin, while Conor Goldson and John Souttar also came in for praise.
Hutton wrote in his BBC Sport column on Wednesday [16 August]: “There will be ones in there [Beale] knows are his leaders, like James Tavernier, he’s a real captain. He keeps popping up with huge goals on European nights.
“Conor Goldson and John Souttar were solid at the back and Jack Butland was brilliant, making two massive saves in the first half. Nicolas Raskin was outstanding, especially in that second half.”
Job done
It was far from pretty from Rangers’ perspective as they struggled to get going in front of a sold-out crowd in Geneva, but they ultimately did what was asked of them.
Summer signing Butland produced two superb saves either side of Kutesa’s opener and was the visitors’ best player on the night.
Raskin won a game-high 13 duels, meanwhile, and ensured his side finally got a grip on the game in the second half to set up a mouthwatering playoff tie with Dutch heavyweights PSV.
As is so often the case on European nights, Tavernier came away with all the plaudits for what proved to be the decisive goal across the 180 minutes.
The full-back ghosted in to head home Borna Barisic’s cross, with that his 12th European goal since the start of the 2018-19 campaign.
If Rangers are to have a shot of overcoming PSV to reach the Champions League proper for the second season running, they will need that aforementioned trio – and others – to again step up.
In other Rangers news, Beale’s side have been handed a boost ahead of next month’s showdown with Celtic as a key opposition player is reportedly out injured.