Rangers set for Sparta showdown at Ibrox as Steven Gerrard's side miss Group A chance against Brondby

This wasn’t the win that would have been so important or the defeat that would have proven so costly. Rangers will take their point and move on in Group A.

Victory over Brondby would have put the champions in the driving seat as they attempt to reach the knockout stages of the competition for a third successive season, but the Danes still harbour their own ambitions. So, of course, do Sparta Prague.

It is the Czechs that are next up for Gerrard’s side. That matchday five clash will be the defining one of the section as three teams battle for the one spot to finish best of the rest behind runaway leaders Lyon.

Rangers had travelled to Copenhagen with their European campaign rejuvenated thanks to the 2-0 win at Ibrox a fortnight ago. The champions couldn’t repeat that result here, though.

Behind to a Leon Balogun own goal on the stroke of half-time, Rangers needed a second half strike from Ianis Hagi to earn a share of the points. It was well deserved, but it wasn’t what they had come for.

Given the limitations of their opposition, this had to be seen as an opportunity missed for Gerrard’s side. Time will tell just how valuable this point proves to be after another night of mixed emotions for Rangers.

The pattern of conceding first and having to come from behind would continue and has to be a real concern. Once again, it was a situation of their own making.

The opening 45 minutes were hardly scintillating viewing, but had Gerrard’s side managed to get to the break without falling behind it would have been a case of job half done. That didn’t happen.

With the final chance of the half, Brondby took the lead. Or, rather, Rangers gave the Danes an advantage as Balogun headed into his own net.

Christian Cappis flicked on a corner at the near post and Balogun could only divert it beyond a despairing Allan McGregor. Whether it was bad luck or bad play was ultimately irrelevant.

Brondby had failed to score in their opening three matches and were the only side in the Europa League still to register before a ball was kicked in Copenhagen.

The fact that Rangers had allowed the hosts to break the deadlock in such an avoidable manner would have added to Gerrard’s frustration at the interval.

The minutes before that inadvertent intervention from Balogun had been fairly comfortable for Rangers and Brondby, once again, were proving to be somewhat lacklustre opposition.

The main source of consternation for Gerrard would have been the fact that the champions hadn’t made the most of the chances they had been able to carve out.

Alfredo Morelos – booked for a mistimed challenge on Morten Frendrup after just three minutes – saw a header ruled out after he connected with a James Tavernier corner.

The delivery seemed sound at first viewing, and Morelos made no mistake from close range. His celebrations were short-lived, though, and a confirmatory check by VAR showed that Tavernier’s cross had gone out of play before swinging back in and onto the head of Morelos.

It was a moment that should have given Rangers belief. This Brondby defence were there to be exploited if Morelos could hold the ball up in the right areas and Fashion Sakala could use his pace to get in behind.

A pass from Joe Aribo set the Zambian free down the right channel but his low shot was dragged wide of the far post as keeper Mads Hermansen wasn’t tested.

A Morelos strike from the edge of the area would have worried Hermansen, while Aribo had two headed efforts – the second of which came after a Connor Goldson effort was blocked – that ultimately came to nothing.

The chances were by no means sitters, but they were ones that Rangers were left to regret in the seconds before the half-time whistle. Once again, they had it all to do.

Just nine minutes into the second half, Gerrard decided he had seen enough. Morelos, Sakala and Scott Arfield – who made a crucial block to deny Kevin Tshiembe from another Brondby corner – were replaced.

Kemar Roofe and Hagi were introduced, but it was the return of Ryan Kent that would have been the most warmly welcomed sight for supporters that needed something to believe in. The switches saw Aribo drop back into a midfield berth.

It summed up the predicament that Rangers found themselves in that Gerrard had to be as drastic and decisive when he turned to his bench for the first time. Staring at a third Group A defeat, Gerrard had nothing to lose.

There was a bit more verve about Rangers in an attacking sense and a strike from Balogun that Hermansen saved routinely was at least a sign of their intentions.

Rangers had more possession and could be encouraged by a spell of pressure, but it was a breakthrough that they needed. As crosses were cleared and moves broke down prematurely, there must have been a fear that the goal wasn’t going to come.

With 13 minutes remaining, the champions got their goal. A burst of pace from Kent had Brondby on the back foot and his neat pass allowed Hagi to beat the offside trap.

Once he did so, the Romanian’s finish was emphatic. Hit with pace and power, Hagi’s strike left Hermansen helpless.

What a difference the goal made on the night and in the table. Rangers now had victory and second spot in their sights.

The closing stages were open and nervy. The game was there to be won for Rangers, but it could also have been lost as time ticked away.

A header from Roofe that rustled the side netting was as close as Gerrard’s side would come. It was to prove one of those nights for the champions.

In the end, there was to be no fairy tale ending in Denmark. Rangers still have chapters to write in the Europa League, however, and heroes can still emerge at Ibrox.