“Performance worthy of the evening – 8” Rangers players rated v Kyiv | OneFootball

Rangers, against all odds, secured a gigantic draw in Poland v Dynamo Kyiv.

Ibrox Noise is brings you some numbers on what we saw this evening at the Lublin Arena:

Butland:

Best we’ve seen from him since before March, this looked like the Butland he was before his focus went a bit. Commanding, big, and made some good stops. He’s been better than this but this was far more like him. Maybe just a bit lax with his kicking though. 7

Tavernier:

Played a much more withdrawn role and honestly didn’t do a lot wrong – didn’t have licence to range forward and Rangers’ rearguard was more solid for it. Yes, he was still caught a few times, and could have been more ‘on it’ for Kyiv’s goal, but a more conservative display saw better results. 7

Balogun:

Surprise starter, he looked a bit rusty, and was caught out in the first half a few times – he’s only played this level once before, v Malmo, and looked a little inexperienced, and has admitted a big goal is to play UCL. But he grew into this and started forging a more reliable duo with Souttar. 7

Souttar:

A few mistakes, is guilty of sleeping too often – did it v Hearts again, and needs to up his general focus and concentration, but otherwise woke up more as this one went on and did decently. Another one a bit vacant at the goal though. 6

Ridvan:

Massively culpable for the goal, slept on the ball and got mugged by Vanat, and was tested repeatedly on his side. Found this one tough with Yarmolenko frequently eating him for breakfast. Karavev, Sharapenko and Vanat also got too much joy here. Not a vintage performance from Ridvan who we got for this kind of level but Kyiv had clearly set a system to hurt this area. Was left exposed too long by Clement who didn’t tighten that hole up quickly enough. 4

Barron:

Brilliant. Hungry, energetic, and fighting for everything, he was probably one of Rangers’ best players overall, and we can’t fathom why he was once again hauled off. But at least Sterling came on for him in midfield! 8

Diomande:

He’d had a rank poor preseason, and shows no evidence he’s bonding with this team or fitting with this manager into the serious stuff. Has one or two moments but this is the second match in a row to completely pass him by. As last season mostly did. 4

McCausland:

Probably his best ever performance as a Rangers player, he was working hard, finding space, and actually beating men for the first time in forever. He had a terrible breakthrough season after that bright first fortnight, but here he looked completely reinvigorated. His near goal was stunning. 8

Wright:

We think he touched the ball about twice all night before being removed. 2

Lawrence:

Very bright first 20 minutes including a nearly brilliant early goal, and was actually dictating a few bits and bobs, then painfully faded but strangely didn’t come off. Was a passenger mostly after that. 5

Dessers:

What can we say, he didn’t let his side down at all. He worked hard all night, took every hit going, kept at it and got his deserved reward. 8

Subs:

Jefte:

No question, this guy is no LB – he is in fact a LW and was absolutely excellent in that role replacing Wright. Had a mean cross on him, was able to find space, and surprised us all with a performance worthy of the evening. If we don’t see him at LW again we’ll cry. We don’t have any players there and maybe now we do. 8

Cerny:

Looked hungry, ready, and while he was initially a little rusty, his assist for Dessers’ equaliser was top-drawer. He might just be the RW we’ve been needing for years. Just when McCausland finally impressed there too! 8

Sterling:

Solid, but then he always is in DM. Nice to see him play there again. 6

Dowell:

Didn’t do a lot, much like the wasted shirt he replaced. 4

Manager:

We have been absolutely brutal on Philippe Clement lately, but there’s no doubt he got the tactics (mostly) bang on here. There was an urgency and hunger from the players from the word go, and he seemed to be using a 4-2-3-1-cum 4-4-2 formation adaptation. The flexibility worked, and Rangers were able to contain Kyiv well and even provide some danger ourselves. He did fail to fix our left till a bit too late though, the signs were there of the danger and how much Ridvan was being destroyed there. That said we were already happy with the 1-0 given what we feared, but hats off to Clement – this was his first-ever Champions League qualifier and he (mostly) nailed it. Still seems hung up on Scott Wright though… 8