Rangers striker Danilo has been criticised by pundit Steven Thompson after the 1-1 draw with Servette on Tuesday night.

The Gers headed to Switzerland with a narrow 2-1 lead from the first leg of the Champions League qualifier with Servette.

Dereck Kutesa gave Servette the lead on the night and levelled it up at 2-2 on aggregate as Rangers were left in real trouble.

James Tavernier found the net just after half time though and that was enough to secure a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 aggregate win for Rangers.

It’s PSV Eindhoven in the next round for the Gers with a spot in the Champions League group stage up for grabs.

Rangers will have to improve against the Dutch side and will have to take the big chances when they come – unlike on Tuesday night, at least in Danilo’s case.

Danilo receives criticism after Rangers display

Rangers have forked out decent cash to bring Danilo to Ibrox this summer.

The Brazilian forward hit 14 goals for Feyenoord last season as they won the Eredivisie title and reach the Europa League semi-finals.

Rangers are hoping to see that kind of attacking output from Danilo this season but he missed his big chance in Switzerland.

Just seven minutes after Kutesa had opened the scoring, Jose Cifuentes broke down the right flank before whipping a superb cross into the six-yard box.

The ball found its way to Danilo at the back post but he contrived to send the ball over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

TSG Hoffenheim v Rangers - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Danilo is ultimately lucky that Tavernier stepped up after the break to give Rangers the goal they needed, as that miss could have been very, very costly.

It’s still early days for Danilo at Rangers and he is finding his sharpness but the Gers do need to see him put away these chances.

Former Rangers striker and current pundit Steven Thompson certainly wasn’t impressed, telling BBC Sport that he felt Danilo ‘struggled’ in the first half.

Even putting his miss to one side, Thompson felt Danilo was ‘sloppy’ and his touch just wasn’t good enough at all.

“Danilo has struggled in this first half,” said Thompson. “His miss aside, he’s been sloppy, his touch hasn’t quite been there,” he added.

Danilo certainly knows all about PSV though and if he can fire Rangers past the Eredivisie side, that miss and performance against Servette will be quickly forgotten.

Related Topics

Close