Viktoria Plzen 2 Rangers 1 (2-4): No hangovers for Gers in home of lager as they reach Champions League play-offs

THE Rangers fan zone was at the HQ of Pilsner lager.

Thankfully for Russell Martin, all Viktoria Plzen were really capable of was organising a p***-up in a brewery.

4 Lyall Cameron jumps for joy after his goal Credit: Willie Vass

4 Viktoria Plzen players celebrate their opener Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

4 Russell Martin watched his Rangers side reach play-offs Credit: Willie Vass

4 Cyriel Dessers hobbles off with a suspected knee injury Credit: Willie Vass

The Ibrox side were unsteady on their feet at times.

And they ran the risk of staggering and stumbling out of the Champions League to be left with one almighty hangover.

But ultimately there was to be no sobering outcome for the Ibrox boss or the away fans in the Czech Republic beer capital.

It was a defeat on the night but those £3 pints should still have tasted good for the 600 travelling supporters who were in full voice after the final whistle having watched Lyall Cameron score his first vital goal for the club.

Martin too should be allowed to celebrate the fact his team are now within just 180 minutes of the Champions League proper and a £40million windfall.

Plzen gave it everything to overturn the 3-0 first-leg defeat and it was another mixed performance from Rangers.

But over the two legs there’s no doubt that Martin's side deserved to win through.

Plzen’s hospitality was top notch but their wasteful finishing saw them get what they deserved.

Martin may give off the vibe of a man who is cool, calm and collected. Maybe even too relaxed for some supporters’ liking.

But he knew this was a huge night for him, for sure.

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Having come here with a commanding lead, the idea that his side would somehow throw that away was unthinkable.

In fact, even at this ludicrously early stage of the season, for some supporters it would have been unforgivable.

Veteran Plzen coach Miroslav Koubek talked about how his team needed a miracle to turn it around and that wasn’t any attempt at mind games.

It was true. Rangers could really only blow it.

Putting Nico Raskin back into the team was a sensible move by Martin.

The Belgian international has his faults but whether or not he’s had his head turned by summer speculation over his future, he’s wasted on the bench.

And Raskin proved that with a typically tigerish performance in the middle of the park.

James Tavernier was also back in the line-up with Max Aarons out injured.

The Ibrox skipper was initially quite ropey but dug deep and settled down, which was the same for most of his team-mates around him.

Rangers invited so much pressure on themselves with the way they continually tried to play out from the back.

There were plenty of times when it did work.

But there were so many times in the first-half when they managed to beat Plzen’s press and get forward, and the attack came to nothing and broke down.

Cameron had a hooked shot that flew over. Mohamed Diomande - who had a torrid first 45 minutes before recovering - also had an effort blocked.

Plzen just looked like a team that wasn’t ever going to be capable of causing Rangers any real issues.

They were aggressive and physical but were looking pretty toothless up front.

Then they took the lead.

Going behind after 40 minutes was definitely a worry for Martin and his coaching staff because it gave Plzen encouragement.

The goal came when they played a quick free-kick out to the right and a cut-back from Amar Mamic was perfect for Durosinmi who blasted past Jack Butland.

But the Czech side still needed two more to take the tie to extra-time so there was no need for anyone in a Rangers shirt to panic.

There was a big blow in 52 minutes when Cyriel Dessers had to be helped off the pitch after picking up an injury.

The referee immediately signalled for the physios to run onto the park and help the striker.

But Dessers - who was replaced by Danilo - managed to walk around the pitch to the dugout so hopefully it’s nothing serious.

Plzen probably felt they had to get the next goal to really make it nervy.

But on the hour mark a good ball forward from John Souttar was chased by Diomande. He then cut the ball back for Danilo, whose shot was turned into the net by Cameron.

It could easily have sapped all the energy and hope out of Plzen but they simply refused to chuck in the towel.

Butland was required to make two superb stops.

Hitman Kwabena Adu should have fired them ahead on the night after 75 minutes but Butland pulled off a sensational save low to his right.

He then made another reaction stop to beat away a header after slack defending in front of him.

The ex-England No1 may have moments where he lets himself down.

But it’s saves like those which proves he’s still one of the best in the business on his day.

There was just so much indecision at the back in those closing stages, though.

Jefte caused another anxious moment with ten minutes to go but Souttar literally put his body on the line to keep it out.

It was absolutely no surprise when Plzen scored again seconds later.

A cross into the box was perfect for Svetozar Markovic who planted his header into the back of the net.

It was just too little too late for the home side and Rangers were able to see the game out and take the applause of their small band of supporters.

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