A competition that has so often brought comfort for Rangers is now causing the same pain as domestic duties have been of late.
The Champions League was the initial goal for this side. Now the Europa League is proving a stretch.
Graz – like Genk last week – are far from the top of the crop in the second tier competition. The latter’s defeat to Ferencvaros on Thursday would attest to that.
But in the opening 45 minutes, Rangers were floundering against in Austria.
The first goal would have had fans hiding behind their cushion. The second, scurrying behind the sofa.
It was the 23rd away game in a row in all competitions in which Rangers have conceded. It beat a club record that has stood since the Victorian era (22 between 1895 and 1897).
Once they regrouped at the interval, there was an undoubted improvement. But again it was once Martin’s side were already on the back foot.
And when they did open up – by ripping up the script, system and structure – Rangers were lost at the back. A better team will punish them further.
Better teams are to come – Braga, Porto and Roma to name a few – and already, qualification hopes appear to be dwindling.