BRANDED by Steven Gerrard as arguably the best team and thus the most difficult challenge that this group have faced together, Lyon were indeed emulative of a Champions League side at Ibrox on Thursday evening.

This wasn’t the raucous, emotive European night Gerrard’s team have earned a reputation for creating on his 50th time in charge on the continent.

Nor was it a one-sided procession in which Rangers simply couldn’t earn the yards they needed to create high-value chances.

There was no visiting periodical dominance on show, as when Leverkusen or Braga came to town, but instead a top-tier opposition demonstrating their level in another fashion. Lyon took advantage of any moment that looked opportunistic and scored twice as a result.

They are, after all, a team that two seasons ago reached the semi-finals of Europe’s premium competition. Regardless, the frustration for all at Ibrox last night was that the home side didn’t quite hit their level and gave up avoidable goals. It was very much a story of one side’s incision and the others lack thereof.

Gerrard openly admitted after the match that his side still hasn’t hit top gear this season.

He said: “I don’t think we’ve got any major complaints. We’ve been punished for two sloppy moments and at this level, teams will punish you when you are so open. We’re frustrated but the goals aside, I’m not sure there was too much between the teams.”

The intention from the management was obviously not to turn this into an end to end tie. For most of the first half both sides occupied the middle of the pitch and dared the other to surrender possession through risking balls in behind, Ryan Kent threatened to make the most of one or two such diagonals.

The hosts looked more organised without the ball and weren’t played through by their French counterparts. The team shuttled across quickly and both Kent and Joe Aribo contributed more to the defensive side of play than either inside-forward would normally be tasked with. 

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Aside from that ball to Kent, there was no real incision from the home side when they held the ball. Glen Kamara received in dangerous areas more than once, allowing his team to play into and through pressure to break past the block. On one occasion, this led to neat vertical play through the lines, bookended by an Aribo shot.

Too often the play from the back wasn’t intentional enough, however. Gerrard could be seen emphatically ushering Leon Balogun forward at 0-0, urging him to make the most of the space afforded.

The game of cat and mouse was underpinned by Gerrard’s comments, this was a team with a plethora of quality tucked in behind the forward line in Toko-Ekambi, Aouar and Paqueta. When Kent surrendered possession cheaply, the former swivelled inside and unleashed a superb effort from all of 30 yards to break the deadlock.

Gerrard bemoaned turning the ball over and showing inverted wingers infield after the game. Kent went close to making amends when he tested Lopes before the whistle.

John Lundstram was making his first start in Europe since he saw red nearly a month ago and did well for the most part, snapping into tackles and looking more comfortable on the ball than previously

Across the pitch there wasn’t a stand-out performer and it’s always going to be tough to beat an opponent of this level when that is the case.

READ MORE: Rangers 0-2 Lyon: Steven Gerrard's side outclassed in Group A defeat at Ibrox

The second, decisive goal again came through losing possession with the team set up to attack. An Aouar shot was saved by McGregor before Slimani’s subsequent deflected shot carried in.

Despite plenty of time remaining, Rangers never looked like they would find a way back into the game. They seemed to play within themselves, the slick interchange, understanding between players and aggression with and without the ball was not on show.

Lundstram, 10 minutes from time, screamed in frustration at his team after being forced into a backwards pass due to a lack of movement. The players in that moment seemed to need someone to take it upon themselves to turn the tide. Nobody did.

Lyon were always going to be huge favourites to win this group, there is little shame in losing to a team of their calibre, but justifiable frustration that a month and a half into the season the team is yet to play to their highest potential.