Dreadful news for Rangers as they go down to 10 men.

A second booking for John Lundstram.

Just to make this live-texter's life even more difficult, the Uefa system appears to be under attack from gremlins, with no updates from any of the eight o'clock kick-offs since the 22nd minute...

As we go past the half hour mark, Rangers are yet to manage an effort classified as a on target.

Can they step up the pressure and build on that shot from Ryan Kent that hit the woodwork?

Is that Rangers winger Ryan Kent responding to Mark Hateley's comments as the 24-year-old hits the crossbar with a shot?

Alashkert have a hotchpot of journeymen from around the world supplementing a clutch of Armenian internationals.

Homegrown winger David Davidyan was top scorer last season, hitting the net a measly five times before joining Khimki in the Russian Premier League this summer.

One of their summer additions, Portuguese forward Jose Embalo, a 28-year-old who has stepped up from Olimpia Grudziądz in the Polish fourth tier, has already hit two - both in the previous round's 3-2 home win over Kairat Almaty.

Bosnian striker Aleksandar Glisic netted the extra-time winner - his second of the season - and former New York Red Bulls French midfielder Vincent Bezecourt was their added-time hero against Connah's Quay Nomads.

Another interesting summer arrival was Ivorian striker Ismael Beko, from IMT in Serbia, who spent part of his career on the books Charlton Athletic without a senior appearance.

Image source, PA Media

A very early change for the visitors as winger Aghvan Papikyan is replaced with Namibian international Wangu Gome.

Goalkeeper Allan McGregor is making his 90th European appearance for Rangers - a club record, taking him one ahead of former captain Barry Ferguson

Image source, SNS

Mark Hateley
Former Rangers striker on Sportsound

The first effort on goal comes from Rangers, with Ianis Hagi missing the target.

Greek referee Tasos Sidiropoulos gets the action started at Ibrox.

Full disclosure; we can't see this game and there is no radio commentary, which is far from ideal.

This is where social feeds and Uefa's run of play come in handy, so it's not quite the blind leading the blind.

Oh, and there are no still pictures available either... But we soldier on.

If Alashkert's European journey has been patchy, their domestic form has been even worse.

The reigning champions lost their league opener 3-0 at home to Ararat-Armenia and followed that with a 2-0 loss on their home patch to Van - both mid-table sides from last season.

Including their European ties, they have gone five home games without a victory within 90 minutes, but Rangers will hope to have killed the tie before the Armenians get a chance to end that run.

Like Rangers, Alashkert have parachuted down to this stage after Champions League qualifying defeat.

Armenia's champions needed a home goal in extra time to prevail against Connah's Quay Nomads after being held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Wales.

They then lost home and away to Sheriff Tiraspol, although the 4-1 aggregate loss maybe doesn't look so bad when you consider the Moldovans have since disposed of Red Star Belgrade and appear to be heading for the Champions League group stage after establishing a 3-0 lead over Dinamo Zagreb in their first leg at home.

However, Alashkert then needed another extra-time goal to overcome Kairat Almaty 3-2 following a 0-0 draw in Azerbaijan to reach this stage.

Image source, PA Media

Another terrific away result for Saints in Europe.

Having held Galatasaray in Istanbul in the Europa League, the Perth side finish level with one of the better Austrian Bundesliga sides.

Can they finish the job at home this time?

Image source, SNS

Three corners in quick succession for LASK. Saints survive.

Zander Clark has to look lively to push away a thunderous free-kick. Saints are under the cosh.

LASK are whisker away from taking the lead on 90 minutes as a glancing header from Nakamura clips the far post.

The ball bounces back into the danger zone and Jamie McCart is able to divert it behind before a home player can get there.

Another one of Shaun Rooney's long throw-ins causes all sorts of problems for the hosts and the ball pops up nicely for Glenn Middleton.

He catches the shot well in a busy penalty box but a defender gets in a last-ditch block.

As we enter the 87th minute, Saints make their first change and it's Chris Kane going off for a well earned breather.

The goalscorer is replaced by Stevie May.

Ouch!published at 19:40 British Summer Time 19 August 2021

19:40 BST 19 August 2021

LASK 1-1 St Johnstone

Lukas Grgic is booked for hauling down Chris Kane and the LASK midfielder then suffers the ignominy of damaging his shoulder as he lands.

He's off and the hosts have used up all five subs.