Match Report and Ratings

[Bazza 21]

Rangers 1 vs. 1 Valencia

Champions Leauge nights are special nights on the best of occasions but last night was just that little bit more. Put it this way, when you walk away from the majesty of Ibrox in awe of the game you just witnessed but dissapointed with the result, against the leading La Liga side until the last wekend no less, then you just know you've been part of a big night for Rangers.

Driving to the game you didn't really get the feeling of what was to come. Of course their was the excitement and anticipation that comes with any CL game but through the traffic and the rain and the radio announcing the news that we were starting the night with Foster at Right back, there was a little sinking of the heart and the hope that any defeat wouldn't be too damming.

Walter stuck to his tried, and well tested now, 5-4-1 formation with Foster and Weiss stepping up to the plate for the injured duo of Broadfoot and McCulloch. McGregor also returned t the starting line up after serving his "ban".

The game started out in the same mood as the support with a lot of nervous tension with Valencia controlling the ball and Rangers looking a little bit like the preverbial "ranbbit in the spotlight" but that was all about to change. It's amazing how one chance, one glimpse of the goal, one very nearly moment can alter a whole game but when Rangers broke for the first time in the 17th minute, Miller crossed the ball from the right for an un-marked Naismith and his touch was just saved by the Valencia keeper, the whole mood changed.

Rangers, players and fans alike, had seen something or felt something that made them believe and as the noise from the terraces soared so did the performance of the players. Chances were being carved open at regular intervals with Miller having the next best one as roles reversed and Naismith provided the deep cross for Miller who just ran out of angle to get his header past the keeper. A good spell of pressure ensued and after a few kicks, pushes and knocks around the box, the ball fell to Papac who hit a blistering shot that was tipped over.

The best chance was about to arrive though as davis split the Valencia back line for Miller who had a clear run on goal but his early season form left him at the wrong time as he hit the shot straight at the onrushing Sanchez. McGregor wasn't without work however and made some crucial interventions amoungst our counter attacks.

The 34th minute was to send the stadum into delerium however as another attack saw a corner forced and from that, Weiss whipped in a peach of a ball for an ever rising Edu to head home in front of Sanchez. 1-0 against such opposition was amazing, just amazing but it could have been so much better. Just before half time the ball landed at the feet of the, now hyped up, Edu who struck a beauty of a ball that slammed off the inside of the post. Unlucky! but wait the rebound had fallen to the feet of Miller who only had the empty net to find....over the bar! Ah, what a miss! That ended the furore that was the first half.

Rangers team talk would have been about keeping it tight and playing exactly the same way we did in the first half but after just one minute of the game re-starting dissaster struck. A very soft free kick was awarded against Whittaker and the resulting whipped ball went just over the head of the Valencia player and landed on the napper of Edu who just wasn't ready for it. He got himself into an awful mess and his header found itself heading for the bottom corner of the Rangers goal and even the hurtling McGregor couldn't get over in time to push it out. 1-1 and a wave of dissapointment so early in the half could have been devestating.

Not for this bunch of footballers however as they countinued to believe in themselves and each other. They had to work hard and close down the Valencia team who were themselves looking to win this game but they never gave up and had the chances to win the game. Davis came closest next as his devine little chip was touched over the bar By Sanchez. Naismith was next to drive at the Valencia back line but was sinically tacken out. the resulting free kick fizzed just inches over from the boot of Papac. Naismith was agian involved as he this time latched onto a Davis ball but just couldn't uite get the ball under control.

The defining moment was just about on us though as the game moved into the last few minutes where any goal would have been decisive. Naismith once more picked up the ball and ducked his way into the box, his shot was well saved but fell to the feet of Foster. The goal was gaping, an empty net, a tap in but he was off balance and he just couldn't get himself into a position to hit it and his effort went agonisingly wide of target.

A pulsating game that summed up everything that was good about this competition, a game that could easily have been won on another night but a game also that puts to bed a lot of myths about this Gers team. A bunch of triers? Parking of Buses? No flair or atacking prowess? Anyone who had those thoughts should take a look at a game that seriously increased, not only Rangers reputation in Europe, but that of Scotland as a whole. Good job someones on the case.

RM’s verdict:

McGregor: - 6 At times looked a little on the sloppy side as he struggled tocatch the slippery ball but at others he looked on top form as he pulled out some big saves.

Foster: - 7 Put a lot of folk, including myself, in their place. Started the game a bit edgy but grew in confidence as the night went on and showed good defensive and offensive attributes. Could so easily have been the hero had the ball fallen a bit kinder for him in the final minutes.

Bougherra: - 9 Immense, just immense. Solid as a rock at the back but added another dimesion to us going forward too. Skipped past opponents like a winger one minute and was like a brick wall at the back the next.

Weir: - 7 Organised his defence well and always made sure he had cover at the back when others went firing forward. A leader in every sense of the word.

Papac: - 8 Probably his best position on a football field. The left of a bac three suits him to a tee. Terrific defensive isplay but also added to the attack. Unlucky with a couple of long range efforts.

Whittaker: - 6 I feel sorry for him at times. Gets fired onto the unnatural left to cover injuries and always gives his all. Didn't get the attacking part of his game right but was defensively sound against a tricky opponent.

Naismith: - 7 Superb workrate for a wide man. Tracks tirelessly back but still manages to get himself into the box to get on the end of anything over the top. Amazing engine and unlucky with a couple of efforts.

Davis: - 9 Truly sublime. His tigerish tackling and nipping t heels won the bll back for rangers more times than I can count and then his ball retention after winning it was second to none. Was the best midfielder on the park and that says a lot cosidering the company he kept.

Edu: - 7 Full of energy and running. Read the game very well and disrupted countless Valencia attacks. Scored with an amazing leap and header and was unlucky not to double his tally when his shot fired off the upright. We'll not delve into his "other" goal.

Weiss: - 7 For one so naturally attack minded he really stuck to his defensive task well. Managed to show some of his skill however and acted as a good outball as he drove at the Valencia back line.

Miller: - 6 The lonliest place on the field up front on your own and so much unseen work load but he puts in his shift and hopes to get a sniff at goal. Got more than that tonight and could/should have had at least two.

Subs:-

Lafferty: - 4 Lightning doesn't strike twice as he couyldn't fire a freekick home to win the game.

Rangers: - McGregor, Foster, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Whittaker, Naismith, Davis, Edu, Weiss (Lafferty 88), Miller.

Substitutes: - Alexander, Fleck, Webster, Little, Wylde, Hutton.

Goals: - Edu 34

Booked: - Bougherra, Edu, Weir.

Valencia: - Cesar, Bruno, Navarro, Ricardo Costa, Mathieu, Topal, Costa (Fernandes 76), Dominguez (Soldado 46), Pablo, Mata (Vicente 84), Aduriz.

Substitutes: - Moya, Maduro, Albelda, Banega.

Goals: - Edu og 46.

Booked:- Aduriz, Mata.

Att:- 45,153

Ref:- Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).

[Orangeclement 555]

Davis for me was NOT the best player on the park , Naismith fr me even though he missed a couple of chances he was the standout for me , followed by Foster then Davis on a par with papac as 3rd best IMO . Davis seemed to lose puff with 10-15 minutes to go , not surprising with the amount of running he did of course

[Broxi 10,573]

Davis for me was NOT the best player on the park , Naismith fr me even though he missed a couple of chances he was the standout for me , followed by Foster then Davis on a par with papac as 3rd best IMO . Davis seemed to lose puff with 10-15 minutes to go , not surprising with the amount of running he did of course

disagree, Davis strolled

through that game IMO, showed that he should play at that level week in week out

[Orangeclement 555]

I disagree .

[Maccy90 0]

Didn't think Naismith had the best game to be honest. Davis, Bougherra and Foster grew into the game brilliantly. Weiss also stamped a bit of class into proceedings.

[MosesMcNeil 1,664]

I'm really puzzled by how I feel about last night. A draw with Valencia would ordinarily delight me given our current status, but I can't help but replay those missed chances over and over in my mind.

Miller and Naismith clean through especially

[GersAvA92 53]

I'm really puzzled by how I feel about last night. A draw with Valencia would ordinarily delight me given our current status, but I can't help but replay those missed chances over and over in my mind.

Miller and Naismith clean through especially

Agreed.

I want to feel great about this result, give me 1-1 before the match and I'd accept but it's the manner that we played that gets me. We had more 'clear-cut' chances than Valencia, we deserved the win...when you watch the highlights, it's all us, if that was against a SPL team, it would've been a cricket score lol

[J_RFC87 704]

Good summary Baz

[Amac9 2,060]

McGregor - 7

Foster - 7

Bougherra - 7

Weir - 7

Papac - 8

Whittaker - 5

Naismith - 6

Davis - 8

Edu - 6

Weiss - 6

Miller - 6

[El-MaGiC 0]

Bougherra was excellent

[Jamie1807 146]

A McGregor - 6

R Foster - 7

M Bougherra - 9

D Weir - 8

S Papac - 8

S Whittaker - 6

S Naismith - 8

M Edu - 7

S Davis - 8

V Weiss - 6

K Miller - 6

K Lafferty - 5

W Smith - 10

[colos 0]

A McGregor - 6

R Foster - 8

M Bougherra - 9

D Weir - 7

S Papac - 8

S Whittaker - 6

S Naismith - 8

M Edu - 7

S Davis - 8

V Weiss - 7

K Miller - 6

K Lafferty - 5