Rangers were beaten by the better team in Slavia Prague in what will prove a steep learning curve for Steven Gerrard’s side heading into future European campaigns.
The Czech team cut a focused and determined figure who marched into Ibrox with a job to do and done it very effectively indeed.
Slavia successfully frustrated Rangers and some big decisions which highlighted the inexperience of both our players and management altered the course of the match.
Credit to the Czechs; they’ve built a robust, difficult to beat team which starts with a reliable and committed defensive line and moves into a pacey and potent attack.
They are also supplemented with some real talent, Romanian midfielder Nicolae Stanciu hitting an immense vein of form during the ties and scoring two beauties to boot.
Lukas Provod, a roaming midfielder with a sweet left foot, was another player who stood out in an assured Slavia performance which Rangers have already conceded deserved to win the tie.
But when you get two players sent off, it’s hard to argue against your players losing their concentration and their head on the pitch and Rangers’ inexperience showed at this level.
Roofe might’ve accidentally collided with Slavia keeper Ondřej Kolář but his boot was high and he ran the risk.
Similarly, Leon Balogun didn’t have to dive into the challenge which seen a second yellow card produced and the Gers reduced to nine men.
Steven Gerrard and his backroom staff also opted to start Balogun over Helander, a costly decision in the end, but one presumably made to cope with the threat of Slavia on the counter.
The Ibrox management also perhaps subbed Kemar Roofe on a little early with the game still neatly poised at 1-0 down, there being no real need to chase an equaliser at that stage of the game.
But whatever the case the Czech club has badly let itself down on and off the pitch.
Thy doth protest too much seems a fitting line to attach to Slavia who’ve thrown the toys out of the pram due to Rangers’ justified response to accusations of racism.
Defender Ondřej Kúdela whispered something into Glen Kamara’s ear – with the game almost done – sparking furious scenes which Rangers have gone on to publicly reveal concerned racist abuse.
Slavia – with a complete lack of grace – have come out defensively, accusing Rangers star Kamara of assaulting Kúdela and claiming they needed a police escort back to the hotel.
The entire thing is a mess but it’s not the first time this backwards thinking club has been cast into the limelight due to accusations of racism.
Racism is society’s problem and football merely reflects this but where Slavia have seriously let themselves down is in their defensive reaction to these allegations.
They’re serious – Kamara isn’t making this up – but instead of waiting to get to the bottom of things they’ve gone on the offensive and are instead singling him out.
Not only that, but the disgusting behaviour of Ondřej Kúdela and the resultant lack of leadership from Slavia has emboldened online trolls, given a voice to racists in their support.
Kemar Roofe in particular has been subjected to some pretty disgusting abuse and it is to the shame of not only Slavia, but the Czech Republic, that their powerbrokers have not taken it seriously.
In a footballing sense, you want to wish this talented team of underdogs with a competitive edge well in the latter stages of the competition.
Not only that but things looked friendly pre-match when their directors were lavishing Ibrox with praise.
But all of this – the racism, the reaction, the brass neck – it just makes me hope they get run into the ground in the next round.
Oh, and that we get them in the Champions League qualifiers next season too.
Rangers fans have stood in solidarity with their players after the incident which was a smite on a challenging tie over two legs.
