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The night will be remembered for Wayne Rooney's goal from a penalty that saw him make an impression for Manchester United after a disrupted campaign. He converted from the spot in the 87th minute after Steven Naismith had brought down Fabio. The outcome, strictly speaking, was just since the Premier League club had been superior, but the spirit shown by Rangers was remarkable. They pursued an equaliser with gusto even if the cause was then hopeless. Rangers will move into the Europa League, while United and Valencia advance from Group C into the last 16 of the Champions League.
Rooney's eye-catching return to the United starting line-up after an ankle problem and other distracting matters did not quite conceal the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson had chosen to field a weakened line-up. Injuries, by contrast, had brought about a Rangers team diluted to the point of disappearance. Already without Maurice Edu and Madjid Bougherra, Walter Smith was also deprived of Sasa Papac, who failed to recover from a head wound, and Kyle Lafferty, who broke a bone in his hand earlier in the day. He was even one short of the seven substitutes to which he was entitled. His side had pulled off a remarkable goalless draw at Old Trafford, even if neutrals would have writhed at the stultifying game set before them. A person in Smith's position last night had, however, the right to do whatever he thought best.
United's circumstanced were luxurious, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic excused duty so they would be fit for Saturday's game with Blackburn Rovers. It may have been Ferguson's calculation that Rangers are so cautious that the composition of his own back four was no great issue. It had, indeed, come as a relief to the Rangers man that he had pieced together a five-man defence. No home supporter had come to Ibrox in expectation of dashing football from their side.
Rooney might have been on the pitch at kick-off for United for the first time since 26 September at Bolton, but no impact could be guaranteed from a person whose form had faltered this season even before his body proved susceptible to injury. In consequence Rangers were more at ease than anticipated. Even the quintet in the centre of the pitch was not all that stodgy when some had an occasional licence to push up in support of the lone forward, Kenny Miller.
He might well have scored in the 16th minute. The striker nodded wide after a Steve Davis free-kick had been headed his way by Kirk Broadfoot. Word came through during the first half of Valencia holding a 3-0 lead over Bursaspor, with victory for the La Liga side ensuring that Rangers would go through to the Europa League. Such issues could be considered reflectively when there was so little on the Ibrox pitch to distract anyone.
Rangers were entitled to employ a policy of bottling up the game in midfield as much as was feasible. Rooney, in principle, was meant to tease open the ranks of opponents, but he did not look equipped yet for such work. The fitness was greater than the sharpness. Much has been resolved with a new contract, injury rehabilitation in the United States and a cessation to news of his private life. It remained merely for him to begin having impact on the pitch. There was a glint of that when a header from a Fabio cross clipped the top of the bar five minutes from half-time.
Little was at stake any longer in this group, but Rangers relished the occasion. They had the most incisive move prior to the interval when Miller completed a one-two Naismith that released him into the penalty area from the right. The angle was acute but he tried to shoot rather than try a cut-back to a colleague. Edwin van der Sar blocked the finish. It had been an unexpected incident all the same. "So far, so good," said the Ibrox announcer at half-time, correctly taking satisfaction at Rangers' resilience.
It was inevitable that the United tempo would rise following some words from Ferguson at the interval. Their opponents went on plugging gaps but their opponents were displaying more hunger than before. Rooney put a set-piece a little wide and then set up Michael Carrick for an effort that was saved by Allan McGregor. Even, so Rangers did not seem set to disintegrate.
It was typical that they should gather themselves and alarm the visitors, with Naismith getting behind Jonny Evans, Van der Sar denying the Rangers player. It was not the sole sight for Smith's side of scope on the break. United made that feasible by being so committed to attack. Uneven as the quality of the action may have been there could be no accusation of cynicism or indifference. The outcome looked as important to the players as it did to an increasingly excited Ibrox crowd.
For a couple of seasons the financial strictures that apply to Rangers have made signings scarce, yet they top the Scottish Premier League and so can envisage a third consecutive title. The team has been hardy and demonstrated that for much of the night. Even so, It cannot have been satisfactory to Ferguson that the breakthrough should be so elusive.
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