Goalkeeping concerns highlighted
Jon McLaughlin is confident with the ball at his feet and a useful adjunct to the build-up when Rangers are dominating the ball against weaker domestic opposition but he's never been a spectacular shot-stopper - and so it proved tonight as he let Teddy Teuma's well-struck attempt go straight through him for Union Saint-Gilloise's first goal. The notion that McLaughlin may not be the shot-stopper Rangers need in big games and his veteran competition Allan McGregor may not be suited to be a modern sweeper-keeper could become an uncomfortable narrative as the season goes on. Both have strengths and weaknesses, the argument will be when one comes to the fore - why wasn't this addressed? To be fair to the Scotland international, his save on the 79th minute when one-on-one with Dante Vanzeir saved the tie and leaves Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men a sliver of hope.
Missing stars' absence felt
If you had to pick two Rangers players you wouldn't want to lose for a Champions League qualifier, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos would be high up the list. The Colombian is the club's all-time European goalscorer while Kent was arguably the top attacking performer on the road to Seville. While Rangers' summer singings mean their loss is less impactful in terms of options, it's obvious that such quality does not simply grow on trees. Antonio Colak is game and works hard for the team but he's not got the Tazmanian Devil quality that sees Morelos at the eye of a self-created hurricane in the opposition's defence. Similarly, Rabbi Matondo looks a good long-prospect but is several years behind Kent in his development at this level. The sooner both established stars return the better their team's chances of emerging unscathed from this tie.
Borna Barisic must sharpen up
The Croatian was partly culpable for a very preventable goal against Livingston on Saturday and he was found wanting once again. For Teuma's goal he found himself out of position before weakly challenging in the build-up prior to the ball reaching the Maltese midfielder. Barisic was replaced by £3.4m signing Ridvan Yilmaz and, on this form, he's unlikely win his spot back any time soon. His Rangers career continues to be a white-knuckle rollercoaster veering wildly from peak to trough, a level of inconsistency that you would not expect from a grizzled 29-year-old international.
Contentious Penalty decision
Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto awarded one of the most ludicrous penalties you will ever see to put Rangers in serious jeopardy in the tie. A shot ricocheted off substitute Ben Davies and onto Connor Goldson's arm. The defender was a couple of yards away, at most, and has no time to react as the ball came spinning towards him. The referee didn't award a foul but VAR called the action back and after watching the incident again, Gigovic awarded the spot-kick, booking Goldson into the bargain. It was a truly jaw-dropping decision and could prove extremely damaging for the Ibrox club.
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