Rangers 1-0 Alashkert: Steven Gerrard's ten-man side earn narrow Europa League win

This play-off victory carried its own significance for Rangers. Having failed to complete their job in the Champions League, they must now finish off Alashkert and secure a place in the group stages of the Europa League.

It was Alfredo Morelos that Gerrard had to thank at Ibrox. When his side needed him most, the striker proved he was the man for the big occasion once again as his second half effort – his 25th in European action for Rangers – ensured Gerrard’s side saw off their Armenian visitors.

That task should have been completed far more comfortably, but Rangers will now make a 5,000-mile round trip next week with work still to be done. A journey to Dingwall awaits before that, while Celtic travel here just days after the gruelling Yerevan excursion.

The schedule and the situation are far from ideal for Gerrard’s side, but it is an issue of their own making. It is now up to them to overcome them in the coming days.

They will do so on the back of another largely unconvincing performance. In many ways, this one was all about the result and that was all Gerrard could really take from an evening of few highs.

It was hard to shake the feelings of what might have been around Ibrox. This was still a European night under the floodlights, but it wasn’t the one that anyone wanted.

Thankfully for Gerrard, it didn’t turn into the ultimate anti-climax. Rangers were far from their best, but were still deserved winners on a night that could have gone badly wrong before ultimately ending on a positive note.

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This competition may have given Gerrard some of his most memorable occasions over the last three years, but those famous wins came when the Europa League was all that Rangers had to aim for. There is, however, still an obvious attraction, and a significant need in financial and prestige terms, for Rangers to succeed.

This wasn’t exactly how their fourth campaign was supposed to start. The standard of opposition may have dropped, but Rangers still couldn’t raise their levels sufficiently in what was only a narrow victory.

A week on from the defeat to Malmo that cost Rangers their chance at the Champions League, the recriminations and ramifications are still manifesting themselves. The coming days will tell just how costly it proves as Gerrard attempts to retain the services of the players who earned his side that chance on the continent, courtesy of their domestic dominance last term.

The latest addition to those ranks was made public an hour before kick-off as Rangers confirmed the signing of Juninho Bacuna from Huddersfield Town. At half-time, the 24-year-old would get his first taste of Ibrox as he was given a warm reception from a 42,000-strong home crowd.

By that time, he had seen both sides of the support. The cheers that greeted Gerrard’s side on their way out the tunnel had turned to jeers by the time they returned to the home dressing room.

Rangers were toiling. They were still level and should have been ahead, but the performance was largely abject and the pressure was on at the break.

John Lundstram would not re-emerge for the second half. His evening lasted just 43 minutes and a red card, courtesy of two needless yellows, brought an end to another thoroughly unimpressive showing.

The first yellow was collected for a daft trip on David Khurtsidze after he was slack in the middle of the park. The second incident saw him stupidly tug back Jose Embalo in a similar area and it was an inexplicable red card to collect for a player with Premier League experience.

Gerrard wouldn’t even look in Lundstram’s direction as he made his way off. There would have been plenty on his mind, right enough.

Ibrox had turned up expecting a bombardment of the Alashkert defence but would witness a lethargic, unimaginative first half that was short on quality and clear attempts on goal.

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The closest Rangers would come was an effort from Ryan Kent that clipped the bar. He had been slipped in by Ianis Hagi, but his strike – from a position where he just had to score - was wild and keeper Ognjen Cancarevic wasn’t troubled.

Alashkert were limited in all aspects of their game. Indeed, they are by far the poorest side that Rangers have played at this round of the Europa League during Gerrard’s tenure.

There should have been a gulf in class to reflect the chasm in resources, but the visitors would frustrate Rangers and anger the home crowd. When Embalo was allowed to move into a shooting area and unleash an effort that won a corner half an hour in, the decibel level rose for all the wrong reasons.

Like Lundstram, Kent would have no part to play after the break. Scott Wright was introduced as Gerrard sought to find a spark to ignite his shot-shy attack.

The 24-year-old certainly injected some pace and a directness to Rangers but there was still a lack of quality in the final third and Morelos was denied twice in quick succession as the home crowd tried to rally their side.

The Colombian had spent the first half on the fringes but was now looking like a threat at long last. A header from six yards was wide when it should have brought the opening goal.

On 67 minutes, it arrived. A dinked ball over the top from James Tavernier sent Morelos clear and the finish – through the legs of Cancarevic – was clinical as the demanding home support finally had something to celebrate.

It wasn’t a breakthrough that they could capitalise on, however, and a one-goal victory leaves this tie balanced ahead of the return leg. It really shouldn’t have been, but Rangers will be made to work for their group stage berth once again.

That feat won’t mean as much fourth time around for Rangers. That doesn’t make it any less important, though, as Gerrard’s side finally look to finish what they have started.