Micky Beale spent £14m on free number nines then had to rely on James Tavernier to bail him out of a Champions League hole.
Trailing 1-0 to Servette which levelled the scores, Danilo was presented with an open goal to level the match but managed to lift his tap-in over the bar.
James Tavernier levelled the scores in the 50th minute when he headed home a cross from Borna Barisic as Beale turned the clock back despite two summers of record investment.
John Souttar was the only Giovanni van Bronckhorst signing in the starting XI last night with Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo and Antonio Colak missing for a variety of reasons.
With problems in front of goal Beale spent £3.5m on Sam Lammers, £5m on Cyriel Dessers then topped than off by spending £5.5m on Danilo from Feyenoord mainly based on the fact that he has a Brazilian passport.
Those three strikers all passed up decent chances to put the tie beyond Servette but Beale had to survive through seven minutes of stoppage time to book a Play Off against PSV Eindhoven with the first leg at Ibrox next week.
Looking at his non-scoring strikers, Beale told The Sun:
We did have moments in the first half, the biggest one was obviously Danilo’s miss. It was a fantastic cross from Cifuentes. Who I thought for his second game for Rangers had another really positive night. I thought him and Raskin were good
At half time we had to have some strong words. It wasn’t the performance we were looking for in loads of areas.
I thought we improved greatly, we had to get our full backs up the pitch, we played with more control and it was an excellent goal. After that we had some excellent chances. Cyriel is really unlucky hitting the post.
— Tam sellic son (@TamseIIicsonIII) August 15, 2023
The Daily Record quotes Beale saying:
It was a fantastic cross and Dani’s in the right areas.. So is Abdallah (Sima), we’ve got two on two in the box. They made the movements that we want them to make, it’s just that I’m backing Dani to score that more often than not.
On nights like tonight, you need to take those moments. Their guy had an excellent finish and we had similar opportunities two or three times and don’t hit the target.
Dessers hit the post from 10 yards out when presented with a one on one chance then headed over the bar from six yards out and is already being targetted by Ibrox fans on social media.
PSV Eindhoven will hopefully be fully motivated after last season’s let down, if they keep Tavernier quiet Beale’s side offers little else as an attacking threat.
couldn’t finish a happy meal
— Aaron (@Aaron72__) August 15, 2023
£15 million for what?? This is ridiculous
— Steak🥩 (@Steakbaked99) August 15, 2023
He’ll be at East Kilbride in January on loan
— Rob Cameron (@robcameron23) August 15, 2023
Im sorry but HOW DID HE MISS THAT 😭
— Scotblox (@cocohrane) August 15, 2023
