Philippe Clement backed to swerve Rangers pain in Prague as Ibrox hero insists squad are 'capable' of Euro glory

A cruel spin of the ball left Rangers shellshocked against Sparta Prague three decades ago.

But Nigel Spackman is convinced the new manager bounce at Ibrox under Philippe Clement can spare the Light Blues any more Czech pain this week. The defender was part of Walter Smith’s side who suffered late agony against Sparta when the side’s men in the first round of the European Cup in 1991.

Gers were confident of progress despite going 1-0 down in Prague and had one foot in the second round after Stuart McCall sent the tie in to extra time and then gave his tie the advantage with a sensational volley. But Sparta sprung a surprise when Scott Nisbet could only divert into his own net to sent Gers spinning out on the away goals rule. It was a sore one for Spackman – but the pain was spared the following season in the newly revamped Champions League as Rangers went all the way to within a breath of the final.

Spackman said: “That was a painful one. We should have got more out there but we were confident going back to Ibrox in front of a full house. It looked like we were on course but it was a horrible goal we lost. I remember Walter wasn’t too chuffed, to say the least.

“The ball kind of spun off Scott and then spun past Andy Goram. It became one of those nights. Back then with the way goals it was a killer. We were 2-0 up and coasting – then that goal flipped the entire tie.

“It was desperately disappointing because even though it was difficult back then with the three foreigners rule, we had high hopes of doing something in the competition. We should have gone through.

"But it just showed you can’t afford to make mistake at European level. It’s the same now as it was them.”

Spackman knows Rangers will be up against it in