Rangers' performance at Nice reminded Hugh Keevins of Steven Gerrard's tenure.
Rangers' performance at Nice reminded Hugh Keevins of Steven Gerrard's tenure.

Steven Gerrard mentioned in astonishing Rangers verdict after Nice win

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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Hugh Keevins has pointed out that Philippe Clement equalled a record set by Steven Gerrard in an "astonishing" win for Rangers over Nice.

Speaking on the Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (29 November), Keevins said that detractors from the Gers' performance in their 4-1 Europa League victory on Thursday (28 November) should be ignored.

Clement's side producing arguably their best performance of the season also saw the Belgian draw level with Gerrard, having gone unbeaten in his first seven European away games since taking charge at Ibrox.

Keevins said: "People will try to diminish Rangers' achievement last night by pointing out the very obvious deficiencies that their opponents had, but that would be wrong and shouldn't be allowed to happen.

"It was an astonishing result, and it also sees Philippe Clement equal Steven Gerrard's record of having gone seven away games in a row in Europe without losing any of them."

Rangers need to replicate Europa League form on a regular basis

For all their struggles in the Premiership so far this season, some of the Light Blues' displays on the continent have lit up the Europa League, racking up two four-goal victories already.

FCSB and Nice have both been put to the sword either side of a 1-1 draw at Olympiakos, and though the Gers' defending was dismal in a 4-1 home loss to Lyon, their overall position in Europe is a strong one.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement
Philippe Clement's side have struggled domestically but performed superbly in Europe so far this season

It's a damning indictment of their domestic form that in a 36-team Europa League table, Clement's side sit just three points off the top in eighth, whereas they're 11 points off the pace in the Premiership.

If Clement can bring the best bits of his team's continental displays – such as giving a start to the brace-scoring striker Hamza Igamane – back into their domestic meetings, expect that gap to close quickly.

However, if the below-par performances in defeats to Aberdeen and Celtic are replicated, the Bear's strong showings in Europe will prove to be nothing more than a curious outlier.

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