'Wouldn't it be just like Rangers to now stun Bilbao?'

[ASFN Admin]

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[BBC]

Wouldn't it be just like Rangers to now go and get a good result against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday after an abject showing and result against Hibernian at the weekend?

In saying that, they will probably have to produce their best performance of the season to do so and the likelihood of being able to do that after such a dismal display on Saturday seems massively unlikely.

I know I'm not the only one to be baffled as to how a team that recently won away to Fenerbahce and Celtic can allow standards to dip so drastically, albeit against an in-form and impressive Hibs side.

Barry Ferguson and his coaching staff will have been scratching their heads, asking themselves the same question this week and trying to come up with a plan to reinvigorate the team for the challenge of taking on the Basques.

Another puzzle is the sudden appearance of expensive errors in the game of the previously ultra-reliable Jack Butland.

I posed the question to my co-commentator Ian McCall on Saturday, after Butland had allowed Dylan Levitt's strike to squirm under his body, whether there was an argument that he should be replaced by Liam Kelly.

For what it's worth, I suspect that won't happen because, on balance, he still produces top saves and will probably be required to do so on Thursday night, but his confidence does appear to have taken a knock and Rangers could really do with him ironing out the mistakes sooner rather than later.

The same could be said for much of the team, though, and regardless of what happens in this European tie and who is ultimately appointed as the next permanent manager at Ibrox, they have a massive job on their hands to restore the club's fortunes.

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