STEVEN GERRARD admits he is pleased Rangers are at home in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie against Braga to spare them from their supporters’ anxiety in the return.
The in-form Portuguese side travel to Ibrox on Thursday before welcoming Rangers for the second leg a week on Wednesday.
And while many managers would prefer to have home advantage in the second match, Gerrard is satisfied with how the draw has panned out.
“I actually think this time round I am quite happy that the first game is at home,” he said. “If you think about where we are right now, I am not sure I would pick [to have the second leg at home] if I had the opportunity.
“If we had to win the game or win it by more than one goal, the crowd could get a bit nervous and edgy. Whereas if we can find a performance that we are capable of and manage to keep a clean sheet at home then that would be the minimum I would like.
“A clean sheet gives you a good chance in the second leg. If we can get our noses in front then the problem becomes their problem.”
Rangers beat Porto at Ibrox in the group side earlier in the season and then held them to a draw on the road. Braga went into the weekend’s fixtures 16 points behind their domestic rivals but Gerrard warned it would be wrong to underestimate this week’s opponents.
“We will have to be at our ultimate best to progress through this because this is a real stern challenge for us,” he added. “The level is about to go up [compared to] the group stage. People might find that a bit of a surprise because we were in a group with Porto who were obviously very competitive.
“This is a good team, full of really technical good players, Brazilian players. But they’ve also got some grit and steel about them as well.
“In the footage I’ve watched so far they are very similar to Porto in style and the amount of technical players that they have.
“We’ve done ever so well to earn this opportunity. Obviously given the form we are in right now, this game is going to be one hell of a challenge for us.
“Bookmakers would probably make Braga favourites but that’s totally fine with us. Going into these two games if we are not on the money out of possession, in our organisation and doing it together, then we could have some issues and complications.
“We are going to have to be spot on in both sides of the game to get success over the two legs.”
Rangers have struggled since the return of domestic action following the winter break. And defender Andy Halliday would be happy for it to be scrapped altogether.
“You can see in England there is a lot of chat about it because teams like Liverpool and Manchester City have had a lot of games and they have pushed hard for a winter break,” he said. “Personally, I would like to just keep going – and that is not just because of what has happened over the last two years.
“The last game before the break we obviously get a very positive result at Parkhead and the momentum is with you. And sometimes that two-week break – and clearly it has happened this year – sets you back.
“The likes of James Tavernier and Conor Goldson might have a different mindset but I would like to crack on [and not have the break].”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here