Kris Boyd missed a golden chance to level the scores against Stuttgart
By Martin Conaghan
When the draw for Champions League Group G was made, the consensus was that fortune had smiled on Rangers.
Now here we are with a game to spare and, having picked up just two points, the Ibrox side have already been eliminated from the tournament and cannot fall back on the consolation of a Europa League place.
Walter Smith's men were humbled at home on three occasions, with Stuttgart's 2-0 success following in the wake of 4-1 thumpings from Sevilla and Unirea.
Respectable draws were dug out in Germany and Romania. Indeed, Rangers were unlucky not to take more from both games. So what's going wrong in Glasgow?
In the light of Rangers' premature exit, former Ibrox defender Craig Paterson believes Kris Boyd's failure to capitalise on a clear opportunity sealed the club's fate against Stuttgart.
Boyd sent a mis-cued header over the bar from eight yards out towards the end of the first half, with the visitors leading though Sebastian Rudy's close-range strike.
"People will look back at the chance Rangers had to get back into the game before the end of the first-half," said the BBC Scotland pundit.
Rangers are better away from home, digging in and making themselves hard to beat
Craig Paterson
"It would have put an extra spring in the step of the Rangers players. Stuttgart would have felt under pressure - they're a team who had gone 10 games without a win.
"But at this level, you have got to take gilt-edge chances, and Rangers failed to do that."
Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds pointed at manager Walter Smith's unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation as a crucial failing in what was a must-win game.
"The formation just wasn't working for Rangers," said Dodds.
"It was causing them too many problems right from the start - the back three were staying back in a rigid line and they were letting Cacau take control of the ball.
"Eventually, Walter Smith put Lee McCulloch out to man-mark Cacau, which worked for a while. It seemed to push the tempo up, and Rangers started to press the game.
"They got into forward positions and Kris Boyd had some chances, which he really needed to take.
Sebastian Rudy put the German side ahead after 16 minutes
"But they came out tired and Stuttgart started the second-half much better. After the second goal, the game was over.
"Rangers couldn't find any inspiration after that - they couldn't get a goal. They were a beaten team, and Stuttgart kept a hold of the ball and earned themselves a thoroughly-deserved win."
Zdravko Kuzmanovic powered in a header on 59 minutes to double the visitors' lead and had it not been for a sterling performance from keeper Allan McGregor, Rangers may have lost more heavily.
Dodds added: "It could have been more embarrassing if it wasn't for McGregor - he pulled off some great saves to keep the score reasonably respectable.
"Stuttgart knew how to defend, how to attack when they needed to, how to score when it was required and how to keep a hold of the ball.
"It's back to the drawing board for Rangers - and for Scottish football.
"They need to try to rebuild and get back into the last 16 of the Champions League to show the rest of Europe what they're capable of."
Without the consolation of a third-place parachute slot in the Europa League, Rangers will now have to wait until next season for more European football, and Paterson said circumstances could deteriorate further without the emergence of new talent at the financially-stricken club.
Paterson added: "Away from home, Rangers have done well in Europe, but it just goes to show you that quality of players Walter Smith has at his disposal.
"Rangers are better away from home, digging in and making themselves hard to beat, but when they're asked to open up and win games, it just doesn't happen.
"Unless they have some great players coming through from Murray Park, it's going to be difficult to make a difference, because there's no money to spend and Rangers may not be able to keep what they have.
"These are very difficult times, and it's really been a year to forget for Rangers."
Craig Paterson and Billy Dodds were talking on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound
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