Philippe Clement gets Rangers reality check but second half response plunders huge Prague point - 5 talking points

Rangers rode their first half luck against Sparta to plunder a huge Europa League point as they battled to a goalless draw in Prague to boost their hopes of qualifying from Group C.

Philippe Clement will be delighted to leave the Czech Republic having avoided defeat but the overall performance is unlikely to have impressed him much with the display in contrast to the comfortable win over Hibs in his first match in charge, although they were much improved in the second half and could have won it with the impressive substitute Danilo hitting the crossbar late on. And if Rangers can win the return in the second half of this double header, they will be looking good for qualification for the knockout stage.

But Rangers were under the cosh early on and Jack Butland pulled off a stunning double save to first deny Veljko Birmancevic after brilliant mazy run and one-two from the Serbian international and the Light Blues shot-stopper then saved Qazim Laci’s effort from the rebound. The Albanian then lashed another effort just wide which Butland wouldn’t have been able to do much about.

The home side were by far the more dominant and Rangers offered little in an attacking sense. Butland was again called into action 10 minutes before the break to beat away Matej Rynes’ shot and John Lundstram did brilliantly to beat Martin Vitik to the rebound with VAR ruling out a penalty after the defender appealed for a spot kick.

It certainly wasn’t a game for the purists and Clement must have been relieved just to get in at the break with the game still goalless. They improved in the second half as they soaked up the pressure and could have scored with a rare opportunity when Sam Lammers saw his effort saved Peter Vindahl Jensen. The Dane