One thing Steven Gerrard has rarely experienced in his time as Rangers manager is having to overturn a deficit in a European tie but he will have to do it tonight if he has aspirations of managing in the Champions League this season.
Steven Davis’s last kick of the ball consolation makes the task only slightly easier but there will still need to be a two-gaol swing if Rangers are to make the play-off round and guarantee group stage football for a fourth consecutive year.
The Gers gaffer is intent on “taking the game to Malmo” and seemed confident in his pre-match press conference that his players are capable of winning the tie but they will need to be a lot more clinical than they have been in the last couple of fixtures.
Rangers have responded well to set-backs in recent memory and for all that attitude and commitment hasn’t been in question, quality has. How the gaffer solves that problem will be greatly enhanced by the return of Ianis Hagi and Fashion Sakala to the squad with Alfredo Morelos also in line to play his first European game of the season.
Will Rangers get past Malmo?
Yes
No
Cedric Itten didn’t let anyone down in the first leg, far from it, he just wasn’t given the service needed to make a proper impact, El Bufalo, however, has shown in the past that sometimes he doesn’t need the help of others and is capable of making his own chances. He would have been clean through against Dundee Untied but for the intervention of Charlie Mulgrew.
Creativity has been an issue, especially from midfield, so, with Glen Kamara still suspended, I’d expect Joe Aribo to play in a deeper role, the big decision will be whether or not to pair Sakala and Morelos together for the first time.
The fans will do their job, as requested by Gerrard, let’s hope the players do theirs.