Sparta Prague 1-0 Rangers: Glen Kamara sent off as Gerrard's side sit bottom of Group A

Sparta Prague's David Hancko (centre) celebrates his first half goal

Glen Kamara was sent off as Rangers were left rooted to the bottom of group A with defeat away to Sparta Prague in the Europa League.

Sparta already led 1-0 at that point after David Hancko's first-half header.

Rangers struggled to impose themselves on their Czech hosts on a difficult night for Steven Gerrard's men which leaves them without a point.

Racism was a depressing backdrop to this game. Kamara had been racially abused just six months ago in a Europa League last-16 tie by Slavia's Ondrej Kudela, with the Czech given a 10-game ban.

And the match was played in front of 10,000 children after Uefa relented on a stadium closure following racist chanting by Sparta fans towards Monaco's Aurelien Tchouameni. Despite that, the Finn was still booed by the young crowd.

• Reaction & as it happened

On the pitch, it was a precarious trip for the Scottish champions. Both Prague clubs had got the better of Scottish opposition in recent years. Celtic were thrashed 4-1 home and away by Sparta last season, but star striker Lukas Julis - who scored five of those goals - was missing.

They still had obvious threats, though. A slip by Calvin Bassey allowed Jakub Pesek to aim for the roof of the net but Allan McGregor did well to palm it over.

And McGregor had to be alert again at his near post to block Martin Minchev's goal-bound shot, but he couldn't keep out Hancko's effort as Rangers' resistance was broken all too easily.

Slovakian Hancko, who had also scored against Celtic last season, got his head to a corner which bounced off the post and over the line.

Before that, Rangers had a brief flurry at the other end of the pitch but Fashion Sakala's low shot was their best effort.

It should have been 2-0 at the start of the second half when a through ball cut Rangers open within seconds. Adam Hlozek sped away, knocked the ball to Jakub Pesek who just had to add the finish, but inexplicably he lifted his shot onto the crossbar.

A minute later, Sakala put the ball in the net for Rangers, but it was ruled out for offside. At least Gerrard's men were at the end of the pitch they needed to be at. But at the back, the visitors were being carved open again.

Lukas Haraslin got between the two centre halves as McGregor got his foot to his shot. But there was little goalmouth action that followed and Rangers were still in the tie. That was until their hopes took a blow when Kamara was ordered off.

The Rangers midfielder, booked in the first half, was shown a second yellow card for leading with an elbow on Michal Sacek.

And yet, in an enthralling finish, Rangers could have stolen a point with two big opportunities.

James Tavernier's late run down the right went unchecked, but his cut-back couldn't find a team-mate.

After Sacek had spurned a chance at the other end, Rangers nearly made them pay when Sakala burst through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but had his shot saved.

And the grandstand finish continued with a flurry of late balls into the box, but nothing would fall fort the Scots.

Man of the match - Martin Minchev

Sparta Prague's Martin Minchev (front) was impressive for the home side

What did we learn?

Rangers' defensive issues are not new. Connor Goldson didn't fly with the squad, Filip Helander was also injured, Nikola Katic is out on loan and Jack Simpson has not been included in the Europa League squad.

It meant full-back Bassey had to be deployed in the centre of defence and it was a tough night for the 21-year-old.

What's next?

Rangers are at home to Hibernian on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership (15:00 BST), while their next Europa League ties are a double header with Denmark's Brondby.

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