Steven Gerrard labels Rangers trio outstanding after Shkupi draw

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Glasgow Rangers booked their ticket to the next stage of Europa League qualifiers, with the Ibrox side progressing 2-0 on aggregate.

Steven Gerrard has told Rangers’ official website that he felt that Allan McGregor, Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic were all outstanding as the Gers booked their place in the Europa League second qualifying round with a goalless draw against Shkupi.

Rangers went into the second-leg with a 2-0 lead following Thursday’s clash at Ibrox. It was a lead that no-one would have expected the Scottish Premiership side to throw away, but last year’s infamous result against Progres may not have been too far from Gerrard’s mind as his team travelled to Macedonia.

However, Gerrard avoided the same fate as Pedro Caixinha as the second-leg failed to ignite and ended in a fairly uninspiring stalemate. But while the Gers supporters may find it a little difficult to find too many positives from Tuesday’s clash apart from the victory in the tie, Gerrard was full of praise for three of his players.

“I think we are pleased with some things, and we are disappointed in some others,” he told Rangers’ official website. “I think out of possession our shape was good, I thought we were aggressive and I am pleased with the clean sheet. I thought Allan McGregor and the two centre-backs were outstanding.

“I think they got one real chance on goal late-on, which we will look at.”

It will be particularly pleasing for Gerrard and Mark Allen that McGregor, Goldson and Katic performed so well. The trio are amongst the raft of signings that have arrived this summer, and their displays in Macedonia hint that they could all prove to be very good additions to the squad.

Last season, the Light Blues looked particularly vulnerable at the back and it cost them dearly. The Gers finished the season as the top flight’s top goalscorers, but also boasted the worst defensive record of any team in the top seven.

It is very early days and major conclusions will not be drawn after two games against Shkupi, but the signs certainly suggest that Rangers have done a fantastic job of turning their biggest weakness from last season into one of the main strengths.