The exertions attached to Rangers’ League Cup final defeat against Celtic only days earlier can explain the fact Steven Gerrard’s team stumbled over the line and into the Europa League’s last 32. Gerrard will ultimately be judged on whether or not he can end Celtic’s domestic stranglehold but progress such as this, which was merited, does no harm whatsoever.
Rangers could not prevail over Young Boys, with Borna Barisic’s messy 89th-minute own goal sufficient to ensure more than a few anxious moments for those in light blue. When a point would do, Rangers claimed one – just. Gerrard’s players looked too exhausted to celebrate as the final whistle blew.