Rangers still on course for group stage, insists McLeish

CSKA Moscow 2 Rangers 1

For that to be achieved Rangers know they must win in front of their own fans in a fortnight’s time after losing 2-1 at CSKA Moscow.

Vagner Love netted an early goal to put Rangers on the back foot but Nacho Novo’s equaliser just before the break could turn out to be crucial even though Jiri Jarosik made it 2-1 in the first minute of the second half. McLeish said: “We have given ourselves a chance when we go back to Glasgow.

“The players made some mistakes but they worked hard. We deserved not to lose the game by more than one goal.”

McLeish had sent out an attacking formation featuring Dado Prso, Novo, Peter Lovenkrands and Shota Arveladze.

He said: “I felt there was a goal in us. I felt we looked dangerous on the break.

“Going a goal behind so early gave the home team a lot of confidence but we defended strongly, sometimes with last-gasp tackles. I thought the changes I made were 100% necessary.”

McLeish backed Alex Rae after the midfielder kicked an opponent’s head in a touchline incident.

He said: “The ball was on the ground when Alex Rae attempted to kick it and it just so happened there was a Moscow player lying on the ground beside the ball. I think that was why the Russians were so upset. The ball was there and I think he made contact with it.”

CSKA coach Valeriy Gazzaev confirmed that his player had suffered concussion in the incident.

CSKA MOSCOW: Akinfeev, Semberas, Berezoutski, Gusev, Olic, Wagner, Odiah, Zhirkov, Jarosik, Berezutsky, Rahimic.

RANGERS: Klos, Ricksen, Khizanishvili, Boumsong, Vignal, Ross, Alex Rae, Arveladze, Lovenkrands, Novo, Prso.

Referee: Jan Wegereef (Holland)

Leeds fans were bracing themselves for a long, hard season after goals from Gillingham’s Darren Byfield and Iwan Roberts brought them down to earth with a bump last night.

First-half strikes from Gillingham’s pair of summer signings were answered too late by Leeds, who set up a grandstand finish with a goal from Danny Pugh.

Sunderland bounced back from their surprise defeat to Coventry on the opening day of the Coca-Cola Championship season to beat Crewe 3-1 with goals from Carl Robinson, Marcus Stewart and Republic of Ireland U21 striker Stephen Elliott.

Coventry lost 2-1 at Cardiff after letting a lead slip.

Republic of Ireland international Graham Barrett put the Sky Blues 1-0 up in the 29th minute but Robert Earnshaw and Lee Bullock secured the points for Cardiff.

Teddy Sheringham’s first goal for West Ham with nine minutes left was enough to see off Reading at Upton Park.