Rangers 1-1 Aris Limassol: Ross McCausland spares Philippe Clement’s side’s blushes as the Scottish giants falter in the Europa League at Ibrox

Whatever Ross McCausland is earning on the new contract he signed this week, sparing Rangers from outright ignominy has quickly delivered some payback.

Philippe Clement, for sure, will be grateful. The Belgian made the biggest substitution call of his nine-game tenure when he withdrew Todd Cantwell after just 36 minutes – following his part in Rangers conceding – to send a ripple of booing around Ibrox.

McCausland took his place. And vindication was awaited. In scoring his first Rangers goal to guarantee some form of European football after Christmas, the 20-year-old Northern Ireland winger at least provided a moment of composure sorely lacking from so many of his experienced colleagues.

It was the sole positive to be taken from a night when Clement’s faltering side dismally failed to grasp the prize in front of them. After Sunday’s slip-up in Aberdeen, the Belgian’s early momentum has suddenly hit a roadblock.

Rangers knew victory would ensure a place in the Europa League knockout rounds with a game to spare. Instead, a testing December 14 trip to meet Real Betis will now determine what UEFA competition they enter in 2024.

Ross McCausland spared Rangers blushes with his first goal for the goal in the Europa League

The 20-year-old came on the first half for ex-Norwich City winger Todd Cantwell

Cantwell had been culpable for the 28th minute concession that stunned Ibrox on Thursday

Victory in Seville – just three days before the Viaplay Cup final – is needed to be absolutely sure of progression in the Europa League. Anything less, and Rangers run the risk of being overhauled by Sparta Prague and ending up in the Conference League by finishing third in Group C.

It could have been worse. Had McCausland not struck to cancel out Shavy Babicka’s first half opener, Clement’s side could potentially have been out of Europe altogether through a combination of results in the final round of fixtures. 

On a bitterly cold night, the Ibrox men did precious little to warm the hearts of their supporters. They did, however, raise their blood pressure by flirting with another defeat against Aris Limassol to join the debacle endured on matchday two. All four of the points earned by the Cypriots have come against Rangers, which tells a story in itself.

This has been a troubling week for Clement. Faced with a frantic run of fixtures towards the festive period, he needed his players to kick on after the international break.

Instead, they have stumbled twice in succession with a pair of damaging 1-1 draws. A reset of some kind is needed when St Mirren visit on Sunday.

Speaking on Wednesday, Clement revealed a squad meeting had been held to talk through the failings of Sunday’s false start at Pittodrie. Adamant it was about more than application or intensity, he hoped the lessons would be quickly learned. They weren’t.

Three changes were made to his line-up, although two of them were enforced. The suspended Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun – left off the group stage squad list by Michael Beale – vacated central defensive positions filled by John Souttar and Ben Davies.

The other switch was slightly more surprising. Sam Lammers had missed a last-gasp snip for victory against Aberdeen but was given a start in the no.10 role ahead of Tom Lawrence, whose return from injury continues to be managed.

Lammers’ first attacking involvement wasn’t promising. A swipe at a Borna Barisic cross ended up striking his standing foot in a moment emblematic of a woeful collective start. It continued to be a mess for the remainder of the first half – lacking any sense of structure or authority.

Shavy Babicka (centre) opened the scoring for the Cypriot side who were bottom of the group

Clement’s decision to hook Cantwell before the break was met by boos by the Rangers fans

Nine minutes before the break, with Rangers trailing and risking another concession, Clement had already opted for a change.

His decision to withdraw Cantwell for McCausland didn’t go down well with some in the Ibrox crowd – presumably because they wanted to see the Englishman shifted off the right and deployed in the central role occupied by the toiling Lammers. Or even dropped deeper in place of Jose Cifiuentes.

Cantwell’s prominence in Clement’s plans could soon become a real source of fascination. Here, a little shake of the head made clear his displeasure after he’d accepted the manager’s handshake.

The ex-Norwich player had, however, been one of those culpable for the 28th minute concession that stunned this ground. Losing the ball in Aris territory, he claimed for non-existent foul as the visitors took over.

Aleksandr Korkorin had space to look up and flight a pass between the two centre-backs, releasing Babicka in behind a sluggish Davies. The Gabonese forward easily sidestepped Jack Butland before calmly rolling the ball into the net.

Rangers could have been behind before then. Aris are no-one’s idea of top-class opposition but, as Clement predicted, they brought an element of ‘chaos’ to proceedings by attacking with speed and numbers.

On 11 minutes, a slick break cut through the Ibrox midfield before the ball was worked out to onrushing left-back Caju. His swerving thump from the edge of the area was pushed wide by Jack Butland.

Between that save and the Aris goal, Rangers managed a couple of flickers. Souttar spooned over from a corner kick before a powerful strike from John Lundstram zipped narrowly wide.

It wasn’t much. And panic still gripped them when the Cypriots attacked. Korkorin really should have done better than fire too high when picked out by a cut-back.

Ibrox echoed to wider booking at the half-time whistle. This hadn’t been in brochure. A reaction from their team was essential after the interval.

One arrived within four minutes of the restart. A sloppy throw-in from Aris gifted possession to Danilo, who rolled the ball right for McCausland.

The 20-year-old took responsibility. Turning away from Caju, he cracked a low, angled shot that found the net via the inside of the far post.

Clement’s positive start to life at Rangers has hit a snag following successive draws against Aberdeen and Aris Limassol

Still, the game remained scrappy. The relief of drawing level wasn’t enough to see Rangers exert the real control expected on home turf. In the stands, tempers stayed on edge.

Clement opted for another alteration on 57 minutes. This time, Lammers number was up. In a blow to his already ragged confidence, ironic cheers followed him from the field as Lawrence took his place. It’s fair to say the £3.5 million summer signing from Atalanta is no closer to convincing supporters of his worth.

Danilo has so far, emerging as the first-choice striker, but the Brazilian mis-controlled when picked out by a James Tavernier cross in a very promising position.

Lawrence then got involved, sweeping the ball wide to McCausland. The youngster surged inside but couldn’t get a shot away before being crowded out.

A Danilo header was saved but, in truth, this wasn’t any kind of effective siege. Now all roads lead to Seville. And everyone knows the heartbreak Rangers have suffered there.

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