Rangers’ opening Group A Europa League match with Lyon was, frankly, exactly as predicted. Not by all of us here on the site, but by some.

Most of us didn’t expect a win, truth be told, but we did expect our team to put in a fight, and unfortunately that level of heart and guts again was absent from a Rangers team this season.

We sit happily top of the table in the SPL, but Europe, normally such a platform for epic nights and colossal wins over major foes, was this time a meek and rather capitulating affair instead of the giant-killing nights we frequently have at this level.

Now, let’s be clear on one caveat – Lyon are a CL team and we absolutely aren’t. We’re miles off being a UCL team, and Malmo, who deservedly put us away in the third round were obliterated by Juve on the opening day. The gulf is clear.

However, since when did the level of our opponent suddenly give us excuse to fail? Aren’t Benfica a CL team? Porto? Young Boys?

Last night, unfortunately, Rangers were too spineless. While it got a bit better in the second half, far far too much respect was afforded to Lyon, and James Tavernier’s ‘fortress’ rhetoric looks a bit premature now.

Were we destroyed? No. It was far from a complete gubbing. But we didn’t show the guts and hardiness we have in this tournament many times before, and sadly this performance was more reminiscent of the flat displays that have punctuated this season so far, rather than the gutsy ones from last season and the UEL in general.

In truth, the SPL is what matters – as things stand the league winners are in line for a direct UCL place next season. So winning the league is priority number one.

But we still wanted a bit of a fight v the French and we can’t really say we gave one.