Derek McInnes’s fledgling tenure as Rangers manager is in disarray after his side exited the Europa League qualifiers with a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok after drawing 1-1 at Ibrox. Rangers had lost 2-1 in the first leg in Poland last week but there was optimism when the captain, Lawrence Shankland, levelled the tie on aggregate with a penalty on 19 minutes. However, in the 65th minute, the visitors deservedly equalised through the attacker Nik Prelec and the disjointed home side could not get a foothold in the game again despite changes in formation and personnel, with the boos ringing out around the ground at full time from fans frustrated at the dismal start to the season.
McInnes has failed to register a win in four competitive matches since moving from Hearts in the summer and the dispiriting performance means Rangers will take on Jablonec, from Czechia, in the Conference League playoff round. Hearts, meanwhile, restored some pride in a 1-1 draw with Benfica as they too dropped out of the Europa League. Tómas Magnússon had the home fans dreaming of a famous win over their illustrious opponents after firing in the opener in the 77th minute.
But the Portuguese giants, cruising from a 6-1 first leg win a week earlier, levelled less than a minute later through Dodi Lukébakio to wrap up a 7-2 aggregate triumph. It was nevertheless an encouraging display from Wouter Vrancken’s side against a team who made seven changes from the first leg. The consolation for Hearts is a place in the Conference League playoffs, where they will face Rapid Vienna of Austria.
David Gray revealed his Hibernian players had their heads in ice buckets as he lauded them for “an incredible achievement” after closing out a 2-1 aggregate victory over Shkendija to set up a Conference League playoff round showdown with the Belgian side Gent. The two teams played out a tightly contested 0-0 draw in the second leg in the searing heat of the Todor Proeski National Arena. I don’t think it was a brilliant game, but we put our bodies on the line and the attitude was there.”
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