Bluedell 5,679 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 5 minutes ago, Frankie said: Morelos is available. No suspensions for us. And I believe all bookings get wiped after the next game. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,665 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 Just now, ian1964 said: Very frustrating match for Morelos tonight, not a lot of supply/support, however it was a very difficult tie away to a very decent side, pleased to see Morelos never got too frustrated and got involved in any nonsense It was a silly booking but not the end of the world. The wee man perhaps should have scored when put through by Arfield but credit to their 'keeper. Other than that he was living off the usual scraps but he worked very hard and played well. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,679 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 1 minute ago, ian1964 said: Very frustrating match for Morelos tonight, not a lot of supply/support, however it was a very difficult tie away to a very decent side, pleased to see Morelos never got too frustrated and got involved in any nonsense So impressed by his attitude tonight ( and this season so far) . He seems to have turned the corner. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,761 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 RANGERS couldn’t silence the Legia Warsaw fans. Steven Gerrard now needs Ibrox to roar his side to victory and into the Europa League group stages. A capacity crowd of 31,000 didn’t witness a goal inside the Polish Army Stadium but this play-off round tie is very much there to be won when Rangers and Legia do it all again next Thursday. Rangers passed their first two tests in this competition with relative ease and were then impressive winners over Midtjylland last time out, but this was going to be the toughest assignment of the campaign, and the most difficult Gerrard has faced in the qualification stages. It was one the Gers rose to. In his 21st European tie as boss, Gerrard avoided what would have been only a third defeat as Rangers denied Legia on home soil. The challenge is now to finish them off at Ibrox. On the park, it is a feat they are more than capable of achieving and Gerrard will urge his own fans to play their part with group stage football just 90 minutes away. When Gerrard addressed the importance of the home crowd and the atmosphere they would create here on Wednesday, he expressed his belief that his players would rise to the occasion rather than wilt under the pressure inside this cauldron of noise and colour. The travelling Gers supporters – around 1,000 of them - had began to filter into the stadium long before kick-off but as the crowd steadily built, the decibel levels rose and rose. Tucked away in the corner, the Rangers fans had plenty to be encouraged about but no chance of being heard. A banner declaring ‘It’s not what’s in front of you it’s who’s beside you’ was accompanied by flares across the back of the imposing crowd away to the left. The rallying call to the Legia players was just as apt for Gerrard and the men he entrusted with a jersey. If Rangers were going to head for home with a win to their credit, it was going to take a performance of individual brilliance and collective excellence. It would take the most complete showing the Light Blues have produced this term. It took until the half-time whistle for the crowd to stop bouncing, the flags to fall and a degree of peace to be brought to a frantic occasion. At that stage, neither Gerrard or Aleksandar Vukovic would have been delighted nor distraught. Legia had created the most promising openings but it was Rangers that had largely controlled the possession. Every touch, every pass, was greeted by a chorus of boos and jeers but Rangers, on the whole, were not rash with the ball at their feet. As Steven Davis looked to control the tempo in the middle of the park, Ryan Jack was busy covering every blade of grass across it. He filled in for James Tavernier when he roamed forward, while his challenges were firm but fair and his ability to turn defence into attack crucial in giving Rangers their central superiority. Joe Aribo saw less of the ball, but looked a danger whenever he was on it as he attempted to burst forward to add to a Rangers attack that didn’t really do enough to worry Warsaw in the first 45 minutes. Sheyi Ojo headed wide from a Tavernier ball to the back post and a couple of corners and crosses ultimately came to nothing as Legia, as expected, proved resolute and difficult to breach. Every forward foray in the opposite direction raised hopes from the home ranks but Allan McGregor proved a match for the efforts Vukovic’s side were able to test him with. It was Luquinhas that that was first to force McGregor into action as he shifted in from the left and curled a shot towards the far corner that was well parried away by the Gers keeper. His next stop was just as important and even better. A slip from Nikola Katic allowed Cafu a sight of goal on the edge of the area and his shot was powerful but too close to McGregor as Legia’s best chance wasn’t capitalised on. Two more were created within minutes of the restart. Valerian Gvilia should have done better when he connected with a Luquinhas cross at the near post and he then turned provider as his corner was header over by Igor Lewczuk. It was a warning for Rangers. On the hour mark, the same two players combined once again and there was another let off the Light Blues. Gvilia swung in a free-kick from the right and Lewczuk met it six yards out but couldn’t divert the ball on target. Within seconds, the play was at the other end and Rangers should have scored. Scott Arfield sent Alfredo Morelos clear and the Colombian only had keeper Radoslaw Majecki to beat on the angle but his low shot was well saved. If the action in the first half had been a little cagey at stop-start at times, that certainly wasn’t the case going into the final 25 minutes or so. It remained goalless – Katic coming close with a header and Aribo seeing a tame effort saved – but the game was there to be won. Luiquinhas couldn’t find the target after getting in behind Tavernier down the Legia left, while McGregor had to make another smart stop as he got a strong hand on a strike from Marko Vesovic. It was Legia that were looking most likely and Lewczuk was a threat from another set-piece as penalty appeals were waved away after he won another header in the area. It was the last chance that Legia had and there was no final one for Rangers. Their opportunity will come at Ibrox. https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17855468.legia-warsaw-0-0-rangers-play-ibrox-steven-gerrard-39-s-side-draw-poland/?ref=twtrec 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,761 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 1 minute ago, Bluedell said: So impressed by his attitude tonight ( and this season so far) . He seems to have turned the corner. I'm still waiting for him to explode ?, however so good so far 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
917 191 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 8 minutes ago, Frankie said: Morelos is available. No suspensions for us. Cheers. Couldn’t understand the Polish commentary, but when he got booked the other week I thought another booking would have ruled him out of the next game. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,761 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
917 191 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 5 minutes ago, ian1964 said: Within seconds, the play was at the other end and Rangers should have scored. Scott Arfield sent Alfredo Morelos clear and the Colombian only had keeper Radoslaw Majecki to beat on the angle but his low shot was well saved. Was that one not offside anyway? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazza_8 233 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 26 minutes ago, rbr said: How many games in Europe is that , and yet to be behind for a single second of any game , now that’s impressive Villarreal, Rapid Vienna and the Russian mob all led against us or do you mean this season? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jaws 570 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 (edited) 15 minutes ago, ian1964 said: RANGERS couldn’t silence the Legia Warsaw fans. Steven Gerrard now needs Ibrox to roar his side to victory and into the Europa League group stages. https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17855468.legia-warsaw-0-0-rangers-play-ibrox-steven-gerrard-39-s-side-draw-poland/?ref=twtrec WTF is that from the ET? Couldn't silence them? Of course we did! In fact we reduced their on the field chances to a couple of shots from out side the box and a couple of headers from set plays. The byline and body text of that article reveals the true nature of a) their headline narrative and b) the facts of the match. Rangers were excellent tonight, and save for some good goal keeping, should be at least 1-0 up on the tie. Ryan Jack was outstanding in his midfield role, Scott Arfield never stopped running into space and Ojo had them terrified any time he was on the ball. Legia came into it after the break no doubt with a rocket up their arse from their manager and still they weren't good enough to break down the Rangers defence. They went short Ryan Jack tidied up they went long Nikola Katic tidied up. It wasn't easy but our team put in a hell of a shift tonight in a hostile environment and could have easily come back from Poland a goal to the good. Don't forget to tune into Gersnet Pod this Sunday evening where you might hear a fair assessment of this game. Dead tree press are dead! Edited August 22, 2019 by Big Jaws 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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