Injury blows a Clement concern as Rangers ease pressure with fine win

Tom Lawrence and Vaclav Cerny had Rangers well on their way to victory with first half strikes. Cerny made sure of the points ten minutes after the interval. Hamza Igamane rounded off the scoring with his first goal since his summer switch to Ibrox.

Rangers now have six points from three European outings this term ahead of their trip to face Olympiakos. This weekend, it is the visit of St Mirren in a must-win Premiership fixture.

Rangers well worth their win

Lawrence spoke on Wednesday about the need for Rangers to assert themselves more as an attacking threat. To be fair, he pointed the finger at himself as well in that regard as he lamented the lacklustre showing at Rugby Park. Here, he put his words into action.

The opening goal was carved out by Cerny as a neat touch in the right channel was followed by a cutback to the edge of the area. The strike from Lawrence could have been crisper but it mattered little as he took his tally for the term to five.

The effort from Cerny that doubled the lead was certainly a lot sweeter. The Czech capitalised on more slack Bucharest play to win the ball in the final third and then produced a lovely right-foot finish that curled inside Stefan Tarnovanu’s post. It was a moment that Cerny is capable of producing more often.

The third goal of the night was going to be crucial. When Rangers scored it, that was that in terms of the result. Cerny doubled his tally in style as a direct run was followed by a jink inside and a clinical finish. He had earned his ovation from the crowd.

Clement introduced Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Zak Lovelace for the closing stages. By then, Igamane had made it 4-0. The Bucharest defence backed off as Igamane worked his way into the area and the visitors were punished as he found the net with a low finish.

Visitors offer little

Jack Butland got lucky. On another day, the keeper could easily have been watching a restart rather than taking a free-kick after David Miculescu nipped the ball off him and slotted it into an empty net with just two minutes on the clock. The award of a foul after a moment of hesitancy saved the Englishman’s blushes and denied the visitors a dream start at Ibrox.

Butland was untested when Marius Stefanescu curled a free-kick over the bar but he had to make a smart save to deny Luis Phelipe from distance. The visitors offered little in the remainder of the first half. At the break, it was hard to decipher whether Rangers were good or Steaua were bad.

In truth, both perspectives were true. This was better from Clement’s side. While the level of opposition had to be taken into account, that won’t overshadow what was a pleasing evening at the office for the Belgian.

Alexandru Pantea saw an effort whistle over in the closing stages and Octavian Popescu couldn't find the top corner with a free-kick. A clean sheet was all that Rangers had to work for at that stage. It was soon confirmed and it was merited.

Clement sticks with his approach

The calls for Clement to make significant changes – both in the system and in personnel – have grown in recent weeks. In the aftermath of Sunday, they have reached a crescendo. The Belgian addressed the style of his side at his pre-match press conference and those who believed he would alter the approach here were always going to be left disappointed.

Two switches were made to the line-up as Leon Balogun replaced Robin Propper and Nicolas Raskin came into the team at the expense of Mohamed Diomande. Clement persisted with the familiar setup as Lawrence operated centrally behind Cyriel Dessers and was flanked by Cerny and Nedim Bajrami.

The loss of the Welshman at the interval was a blow for Clement. Lawrence has his own critics amongst the support but he has produced big moments this term. Time will tell how significant the injury that he sustained just before the break is.

When the likes of Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo are still absent, Clement needs Lawrence on the pitch rather than in the treatment room. The same can be said of Balogun after he was forced off midway through the second half.

Reasons to be cheerful for Ibrox crowd

This was a Europa League night with a difference. It was a big game, but not in the way that so many of these occasions have been over recent seasons. The fact that Rangers were sending out emails earlier in the day to shift tickets said it all. In the hours before kick-off, there were plenty of briefs available for sell around Ibrox. The crowd figure was just over 41,000 in the end.

Anger amongst a support is one thing, but apathy is quite another. Clement called for the fans to stick with his side and highlighted the role that they can play as this side look to find their form and find performances and results to ease the pressure.

A positive start, one which was a step up from the lackadaisical approach at the weekend, gave the crowd something to get behind. There were the odd moans and groans but there wasn’t too much for fans to grumble loudly about as Clement’s side were comfortable in the first half.

That was the case at full-time as well. Clement would have been fully aware of what the reaction would have been if his side had stumbled here. He can be pleased, therefore, with a straightforward night. It won’t quieten down all the noise. It will, though, give the Belgian a bit of breathing space. Until Sunday, of course.

Frustrating outing for Dessers

The man that leads the line has been the name on the lips of many once again this term. After a productive start to the campaign, the goals have dried up for Dessers of late. When he doesn’t score, he gives his critics even more ammunition as the negatives in his game are picked out.

It was a largely anonymous first half for the striker. He could be labelled culpable for a couple of moves that broke down prematurely. Those were in the rare occasions when he looked like contributing as the minutes passed him by.

As Rangers celebrated their third of the night, Dessers headed straight for the touchline. He cut a furious figure but it was unclear what the issue was as he stopped briefly to speak to Clement. He headed straight up the tunnel and was replaced by Igamane. It was a strange end to a frustrating evening all round for Dessers.