Sky reporter shares 'Interesting' verdict as Rangers gear up for Lyon tie

Luke Shanley insists Rangers need to be more clinical as they prepare for an “interesting” Europa League clash with Lyon on Thursday (3 October).

Speaking on Sky Sports News (3 October, 4:24pm), the reporter said that while he’s been impressed with the Gers’ recent form, the match against Lyon will be a “gauge” of their progress.

Philippe Clement’s side have won their last four matches in all competitions, keeping four clean sheets in the process, including a 2-0 victory over Malmo in their Europa League opener.

Shanley said: “Rangers need to be more clinical up front – although they did have that win against Malmo last week, before beating Hibernian at the weekend through a nice finish from Tom Lawrence.

“Rangers couldn’t kill off that game, so in that sense they need to be more clinical against a Lyon side with just one win from five league games, leaving them 11th in Ligue 1.

“Rangers have a good record at Ibrox and this will be an interesting one – a gauge of where they are at right now.”

Philippe Clement can lay down a marker in Rangers v Lyon

While back-to-back Premiership victories over Dundee United and Hibs respectively have hardly made a dent in Celtic and Aberdeen’s lead at the summit, the Gers do have a chance to make waves in Europe.

Unfancied against Malmo and coming away from their opener as 2-0 winners, Clement’s side now have the chance to climb to the top of the 36-team league phase of this year’s competition.

Coming up against a vulnerable Lyon side who have not made a strong start to their campaign, the Ibrox faithful will smell blood and look to create an atmosphere to roar their team home.

Another clean sheet for Jack Butland certainly wouldn’t go amiss, and if the Gers can make it five wins in a row without conceding, Celtic will no doubt be looking over their shoulders.

There is plenty of race left to run this season on all four fronts Clement’s side are competing on, but the Belgian is keeping things ticking along nicely at the moment, with another European victory on the cards.

In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd was “surprised” at how long it’s taken for an out-of-favour player to return to the fold at Ibrox.

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