Rangers told they've gained 'massive' Europa League point as opponents branded 'absolutely appalling'

Neil McCann believes Rangers 1-1 draw against Olympiacos in Greece is the type of result that would have been celebrated a lot more had it been during the old Europa League group stage format.

The former Ibrox star - who spent five years at Ibrox between 1998 and 2003 - reckons Philippe Clement’s side should be delighted with their return of seven points from four games in the new league phase of the competition after earning a share of the spoils in front of a raucous atmosphere in Piraeus.

Frontman Cyriel Dessers was the Light Blues hero on the night, producing a moment of real quality to draw his team mates back on level terms following Ayoub El Kaabi’s opener. And McCann declared he was left far from impressed by the Greek giants, who are the current Conference League holders.

“In terms of clean cut chances Rangers absolutely had more of those,” McCann said, when asked to sum up the match on BBC Sportsound. “Looking at the goal, you look at the back four in terms of it is slightly disjointed because Jefte gets taken out and then he tries to get back in. They actually didn’t look under any threat whatsoever.

“I was really disappointed in this team that won the Conference League last year. I know they lost a couple of big players. Reactive El Kaabi for the goal. He just checked looking for a knock down and gets it. As equally as they were poor going forward, defensively really wide open and really exposed. The decision making for Dessers’ chance he eventually buries is absolutely appalling.

“In saying that, really good composure from Dessers. His finish is brilliant and it is a really important point. It is one of those games if you were in the old format you’d take this game as a really brilliant point thinking ‘we will beat this team at home’. In this new format, going away from home puts them on seven points. It is a pretty good return so far.”

Fellow pundit Steven Thompson was in agreement, adding: “It is a brilliant result. They showed a great reaction. To come away from a really tough opponent, in a hostile place with a point, it is massive. It was a better performance from Rangers and that will please the manager the most.”