Rangers fans rally around Katic after narrow defeat against Spartak

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Rangers travelled to Spartak Moscow last night looking to extend their record-breaking European unbeaten run this season and seize control of their Europa League group.

And if you’d told Steven Gerrard and his players that they were going to score three first half away goals in pursuit of that result, every single one of them would have snapped your hand off.

But as it turned out, Roman Eremenko’s own goal and strikes from Daniel Candeias and Glenn Middleton, which put Rangers into the lead three times were not enough to avoid going down 4-3 and slipping down to third in Group G.

Ahead of what was always going to be a tough away assignment in a hostile atmosphere, Gerrard opted to recall Nikola Katic to his backline ahead of Nottingham Forest loanee Joe Worrall.

But the four goals conceded which saw Gerrard claim Rangers’ defending was worse than what you’d see at under 12 or 13 level shows that wasn’t necessarily the best move.

Katic was honest enough to face the media in the aftermath of the game and it was clear from the expression on his face that he was absolutely gutted about the result.

So while Gers fans might have been expected to lay into their centre-half after letting in four goals, that clear passion meant that they rallied round him. We’ve taken a closer look…

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