Ally McCoist says ‘that’s Rangers for you’ as Emmanuel Fernandez in spotlight for Ferencvaros winner in UEFA Europa League – ‘Inability to defend’

While new manager Danny Rohl has turned fortunes around relatively well in the Scottish Premiership following his recent appointment, the club have continued to struggle on the continent.

They have not lost in the SPFL since September 13 but have failed to register a win in the Europa League this season.

Rangers appeared to give themselves a decent chance of at least a point when Bojan Miovski scored an impressive acrobatic opener for the visitors on 27 minutes.

However, they were unable to hold onto the lead before the end of the first half, when Bence Otvos struck.

There were warning signs that Rangers might struggle at the back, as Yusuf Bamidele burst into space and missed a chance after just two minutes.

McCoist was damning as he watched the action unfold and felt Emmanuel Fernandez should have been more aware of the danger.

He said: “It’s easy, it’s far too easy. I’m looking at Fernandez there. He’s got to come across. He has to come across. Look, dear me.

“He has to come across and challenge the forward. Thankfully, he shoots wide, but that is a big opportunity.”

The Hungarian side then went ahead through top scorer Barnabas Varga after he fired in from a cross, and McCoist again picked out Fernandez as the man at fault.

He felt that the 24-year-old failed to position himself properly in order to follow a cross that came in from the left-hand side, though he did suggest there was another problem in that the cross had been allowed into the penalty area in the first place.

‘Dear me!’ – McCoist laments Rangers defending as Yusuf fires wide after two minutes

Video credit: TNT Sports

He explained: “There are two things. Not enough done to stop the cross. You’ve got to stop the cross. Watch Fernandez… Oh my goodness, left centre-back. He’s actually facing the wrong way.

“I don’t really know what to say there. That’s unbelievable. That’s Rangers for you, just an inability to defend. I’ve got no idea what Fernandez is doing there.”

Rangers’ next match is against Hibernian on Monday, before they travel to league leaders Hearts the following Sunday.

If Hibernian win that match, then they would leapfrog Rangers into fourth and go as high as third place.

After the defeat on Thursday, Rangers dropped to 34th out of 36 teams in the league phase. They have lost five of their six matches, with the other game a draw, leaving them on a single point so far in the campaign.

Rangers likely have just two more matches in the Europa League to come, which both take place in 2026. They host Bulgarian side Ludogorets on January 22, with their last match in the league format taking place at Portuguese giants Porto the following week.