Vaclav Cerny scores against FCSBSNS

Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny scored two and assisted another in a standout display

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Manager Philippe Clement is demanding his Rangers team "create habits, connections and consistency" after they responded to Sunday's damaging defeat at Kilmarnock with a vibrant four-goal Europa League victory over FCSB.

The Belgian said before the game that it was "not about the reaction, it's about the performance" - but he got both after a week of intense criticism in the Ibrox side's biggest European win since 2007.

Vaclav Cerny teed up Tom Lawrence's opener and netted a classy double in a standout performance, before Hamza Igamane sealed the dominant win with his first goal for the club.

"We were all sick of losing," Clement said. "Everybody was disappointed about Sunday and we wanted to stand up altogether.

"I still see a lot of things we can improve on, but I'm happy everybody can see there's potential in this squad. We need time to connect everything together.

"I'm looking forward to the future with this squad. It's about creating habits, connections and consistency. We're going to work hard on that."

Despite increasing discontent among the fanbase following the weekend's abject loss, a vocal home support still provided their full backing in Govan.

They were stunned within minutes of the first whistle, however, when David Miculescu dispossessed a dithering Jack Butland and rolled in what he thought was an opener, but the goalkeeper's blushes were spared as a foul was given by the referee.

It was a moment that could have spooked Clement's men, but they got the goal their high-octane start deserved when questionable goalkeeping allowed Lawrence to squeeze in a curled effort from the edge of the box.

And it was 2-0 just after the half-hour mark when Cerny won possession in the final third before bending a fine strike into the far corner with his weaker right foot.

On-loan Wolfsburg winger Cerny added his second and Rangers' third after the break when a sweeping counter-attack ended with the Czech forward dipping the shoulder and rolling in a composed finish.

Then there was time for substitute Igamane to open his Rangers account when he dragged one into the far corner after a couple of stepovers.

FCSB, the fifth-placed side in Romania's top flight, tested Butland through Siyabonga Ngezana in the first half with the score at 1-0, but they were simply overwhelmed for the majority of the contest.

A potential knee injury for midfielder Lawrence, who was substituted at the break, plus second-half issues for Cyriel Dessers and Leon Balogun, were the only real negatives for Clement, whose side sit 11th in the 36-team table.

Clement's changes pay off in much-needed reaction

Midfielder Nico Raskin and defender Balogun returned to the Rangers side at the expense of Mohamed Diomande and Robin Propper, who struggled at Rugby Park on Sunday.

The double switch proved to be a shrewd call as the intensity of Raskin, who ex-Rangers winger Neil McCann described as a "man possessed" on BBC Sportsound, was integral to the home side's full-throttle start.

It is perhaps a concern that 36-year-old Balogun is arguably Clement's most accomplished centre-back, but the Nigerian was an assured presence in the hosts' backline before he was brought off in the second period.

Meanwhile, a lack of consistency from Cerny has been a source of criticism, but the winger's performance highlighted again that he is capable of lighting up games.

Igamane, who registered seven more touches than Dessers despite replacing the striker in the 57th minute, showed he can be a valuable attacking option if he can get some rhythm.

There are tougher European tests to come for Rangers in their remaining five league phase games, but six points from three matches gives them a decent foundation to build on.

What they said

'Everybody can see there's potential in this squad' - Clement

Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "It’s about creating this more consistently. I'd have loved points against Lyon, but I think we're on track in Europe.

"[Cerny] has all my confidence. He's not only a really good player but someone who is working hard for the team. I want to see more and moreover the next weeks.

"We need to create much more hunger to get better and better."

Rangers captain James Tavernier: "It's obviously important to get the reaction after the weekend. A performance to build on.

"I thought Connor [Barron] and Nicolas [Raskin] were really strong in midfield. They controlled the tempo in there and that pushed us up as a team.

"Vaclav [Cerny] coming inside and getting a couple of goals, I'm really happy for him."

Match stats

  • This was the first time Rangers have won a major European match by four goals since beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 4-0 in the Uefa Cup in February 2007.

  • FCSB have now lost each of their last eight matches against UK opposition (including qualifiers) by a combined scoreline of 24-2, conceding three or more goals in six of those eight matches.

  • Cerny became only the second Rangers player to have a hand in three or more goals in a single Europa League match (two goals, one assist) and the first since Alfredo Morelos (v Royal Antwerp) in February 2021.

  • Rangers attempted 15 shots in the first half, which is the most they have ever managed in the opening 45 minutes of a Europa League match.

  • James Tavernier made his 54th appearance in major European competition for Rangers, moving him level with Steven Davis. Only Allan McGregor (78), John Greig (62) and Barry Ferguson (60) have made more.

  • After netting one goal across his first six European matches for Rangers, Lawrence has now scored in back-to-back games (v FCSB and Lyon). All three of those goals have come in the opening 15 minutes of matches.

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