3 burning Rangers issues as Steven Gerrard's side faces tough Europa League qualification task

David Hancko’s powerful first-half header was enough to separate the two sides, but in truth Steven Gerrard’s men didn’t perform at a high enough level to get a positive result.

Sparta missed several glaring opportunities, especially in the second half when the defence were cut asunder time and again. Winger Jakub Pesek missed the chance of the game when he crashed the ball against the bar from eight yards with Alan McGregor well beaten.

Glen Kamara was sent off for a second yellow card on the 74th minute, a ludicrous decision by the referee who adjudged him to have led with an arm when challenging for the ball.

And although his teammates struggled forward valiantly in search of an equaliser with a man short, the Czechs held on for three crucial points.

Glen Kamara heckles expose grip of flawed Kudela narrative

After all the Finnish midfielder has been through since he was racially abused in last season’s competition by Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela, it was genuinely sickening to hear his every touch booed by the home support. That gut-wrenching feeling from the pit of your stomach was exacerbated by the knowledge Sparta’s stadium was filled with children under the age of 14. This turn of events came to fruition after Sparta were punished when their fans racially abused Monaco’s striker Aurelien Tchouameni in a Champions League qualifier. If the notion was to showcase a brighter future for Czech football, free from the scourge of racism, then the dream dissolved into nightmare and showed just how deeply the flawed narrative around the Kudela case has penetrated the national consciousness. Kamara is made of strong stuff, but he’s sure to have been disappointed and, rightly, infuriated at being targeted simply for being the victim of oppressive and discriminatory behaviour. It’s time for UEFA bare their teeth, show their anti-racism message is about more than sentiment and make an example of this club.

Calvin Bassey and a rocky defensive display

The youngster had something of a mixed night as an auxiliary central defender. His pace was crucial in preventing goals as Rangers endured a tumultuous start to the second half with Sparta breaking in behind the defensive lines with an ease rarely seen in this competition under Gerrard. He wasn’t aided as he should have been by his experienced full-backs Borna Barisic and James Tavernier who were well off the pace throughout. While Bassey had his ups and downs in an unfamiliar position, he didn’t let anyone down and showed real appetite for the battle. The management team can console themselves that Rangers will emerge stronger defensively as the injured return. The loss of Connor Goldson was always going to be a huge problem given his leadership qualities and experience at the back - and so it proved.

READ MORE: Sparta Prague 1-0 Rangers: Glen Kamara abuse overshadows Europa League defeat

Fashion Sakala shows flashes

With electric pace as his primary asset, you always felt the natural stage for the Zambian would be the Europa League and tough domestic fixtures against the city clubs. He had the chance to prove the theory tonight and showed his potential in flashes. He’s certainly a grafter and didn’t stop running, cutting passing angles and sticking to the defensive task while always offering an attacking out ball. He’s five minutes through the door and will get better, but he looks like a player with many gifts who will need to be carefully shaped into a star. How much time and patience he will get at a club where your quality is measured on your last pass is another matter.