Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (3-3 agg) [3-2 pens]: The hard way

Afternoon all, Rangers progressed to their 2nd European quarter final in the last 3 years after a gritty win on penalties over Fenerbahce. We made hard work of what looked like a fairly routine game on paper following the impressive first leg.

I was happy with the line-up pre-kick off. Sterling in for Yilmaz was a move to give us more balance and physicality. The opposition made some interesting tactical tweaks to try and counter our approach.

Szymanski played as the number 10 with Tadic dropped to the bench, this allowed Fred to come back into the team and gave Fenerbahce a really balanced midfield 3 compared to the first leg. Mert Muldur was deployed as the right centre back, he is traditionally a fullback/wingback, so that gave them more pace on the cover and also an overlapping threat on their right side.

I don't think Rangers struggled massively in the first half. It was clear that we were looking to get opportunities on the break like we did in the first leg. But maybe could have been proactive in our positioning out of possession. On the occasions we won the ball in the middle third, we got forward well and with numbers but our decision making was often at fault in the final third.

Fenerbahce weren't too intimidating in the first half, their changes allowed them more control and (crucially) more ability to deal with our fast breaks. They held a lot of the ball but didn't really have a chance, until the stroke of half time. Kostic found some space to cross (triggered a few Vietnam flashbacks in the Rangers support), his ball in took a deflection off Sterling. As a result the ball outfoxed Tav and fell for Szymanski who still had quite alot to do. The Pole's first time finish was excellent and changed the complexion of the second half.

A word for the referee overall, but in the first half particular. He was atrocious, he got a few big calls wrong like the Talisca 'dive', but his proclivity for booking Rangers players and then keeping his cards sheathed for similar challenges by the away side had a negative impact on the game. European refs can be card happy, but not normally for just one team. Hopefully that's the last time we see him in the competition.

Our chips were down in the second half, and the pattern of the game reflected that. We really struggled to build any kind of notable attack or opportunity. I can understand why Barry wouldn't want to change our approach, we were still in the lead and Fenerbahce weren't having bags of chances. But I think a more experienced coach would have changed things to try shift the balance of the match back in our favour.

Eventually he did make some changes in the form of personnel rather than system-based, Igamane was introduced for Dessers and Bajrami for Diomande. The impact was immediate, Igamane was a different threat and he gave the back 3 something to think about on the ball. Bajrami didn't quite do that but he got involved.

Ofcourse it was just after this good attacking spell that Fenerbahce got their second. A ball down our left side eluded Jefte who really should have done better. The ball was cutback for Szymanski whose finish found it's way past Tavernier on the goal line. The game had been getting stretched but the timing of the goal really killed any momentum the subs brought our way.

Sadly after that it seemed like as a team we were waiting for Fenerbahce to get the third. We were indebted to a few great interventions from the back 3 to stop the Turkish side going ahead on aggregate for the first time in the tie. I really worried about if the team could make it to the end of the 90 minutes, and had some concerns about extra time too. The boys were dead on their feet.

I want to talk about Bajrami too, for me his cameo was nothing short of embarrassing. The Albanian was meant to give us some freshness and some zip. Instead he wandered around the field aimlessly, sometimes not making the run when we had the ball, sometimes making a "safe" run when what we needed was something to show the opposition we still had some threat on the break. I don't understand the mentality at all, surely coming on when the game is stretched and everything is at stake should be something you relish? There's not much time left in the season, but I'd be happy to sell the former Sassuolo man if we got an offer in the summer unless he becomes the Albanian Messi before then.

The game was calling out for a system change to ask the away team some questions. Barry obliged with a shift to something approaching a 433 (honestly it was hard to keep track of, I don't think the positional discipline was great). There was a period in regulation time and in extra time when we suddenly looked more dangerous than we had all game. There was space in the wide areas and we started to exploit it at will.

This changed when Barron went down injured, he had worked hard all game without much to show for it. But the change to the shape allowed the young Scot to take up great positions to receive the ball deep and move us up the pitch. Tom Lawrence was introduced from the bench to replace him. Certainly not a like for like change, and from then on we struggled to build any kind of significant attack until the end of extra time. I was critical of the choice of Lawrence over Rice, but clearly the Welshman was chosen with an eye on the potential penalty shootout. Given the way things turned out, I'm happy to say I was wrong there!

When the whistle blew and it was time for penalties I wasn't sure how to feel. Our track record isn't particularly great in recent times, to say the least. I was critical of Butland's performance in the cup final shootout so this was a chance for him to step up and prove a few doubters wrong.

The Englishman certainly did that, when Fenerbahce won the toss to take first I was thinking of the statistical and psychological disadvantage facing Rangers. Those thoughts were dispelled by Butland making a fantastic save to deny Tadic, who is normally a very reliable penalty taker. Tavernier and Cerny scored well, as you'd expect.

When Hagi stepped up I was nervous, he arrived at the club as a young player with a great penalty record, including being the first player to score two penalties in the same game using a different foot for each. But I've seen him take 3 penalties since he arrived, his saved effort against Braga away from home, his penalty in the league cup final which he scored and then last night's which was poor again and saved. I really don't know why he can't take consistent penalties anymore.

But his blushes were spared by Butland making a truly tremendous save from Fred's penalty. We can't tangibly measure the impact that the timing of Butland's two saves will have had on the players of both teams, but saving the first penalty when you're going second, and saving the penalty from the opposition captain following your teammates miss must be absolutely massive.

Butland getting down well to save Fred's penalty.

The shootout was only going one way from there, Lawrence smashed his penalty down the middle. Both he and Cerny going down the middle makes me think there was data on the Fenerbahce keeper being vulnerable to that kind of penalty.

As the last Fenerbahce player stepped up, he looked mentally done pre-penalty. And he proved it by blasting his shot over the bar.

The scenes of jubilation are absolutely fantastic. It's so important to savour these moments as a supporter. And the players deserve massive credit for digging and making it happen.

Athletic Bilbao await in the quarter-final. One of the favourites in the competition and a really tricky opponent to deal with. But I'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now let's enjoy last night ahead of the Old Firm at the weekend.