CSKA Moscow 2 Rangers 1

A poor performance from Rangers last night, against a equally poor team.

Rangers should turn this result round in a fortnight, but if they don't they will have to concede the fact that even a competent performance here in Moscow would have gained them a win.

This has to be as badly as Rangers play this season, otherwise they are in real trouble.

It amazes me that you can bring in a whole new defence and watch as they play with the same inexplicable nervousness as they did last season. To lose the goals that we did is very worrying. They were schoolboy goals, mistakes you would expect to see from an SFL side in a cup tie against vastly superior opposition, chances created not from skill but a lack of basic concentration.

But no-one keeps a clean sheet all the time. Rangers created practically nothing and are perhaps lucky to have scored. Novo's vital goal was created by the drive and endeavor of Dado Prso, the only Rangers attacker who looked like he had a clue.

Novo's touch too often let him down, Averladze looked lazy and hesitant and Peter Lovenkrands, at fault for both goals Rangers conceded, needs to take a long hard look at himself. It was a performance full of errors in both attack and defence, and also seemed to be lacking in commitment and concentration.
Rangers fans are quickly losing patience with the guy and I think many, including myself, would like to see one of the youth team promoted in his place if only to stop Lovenkrands from playing like a guy who knows he's going to start every week.

All in all, a result I would have taken before kick off but having watched Moscow offer nothing of any real quality, a disappointing result.

They should be there for the taking at Ibrox in a fortnight. Should Rangers fail to go through to the Champions League proper however, they will rue the fact that Moscow were there for the taking on their own patch.