Rangers 4-0 FCSB: Revitalised Rangers climb off the canvas to stun Steaua and earn Clement some breathing space

Just as Philippe Clement looked set to leave the road, an emphatic result that few honestly saw coming ensures the Belgian’s Ibrox journey continues for the time being.

After being subjected to fierce criticism following a dismal defeat at Rugby Park on Sunday, a win and a performance were virtually non-negotiable for the Rangers manager here.

By the end of a very satisfying evening, Clement could rightly claim that both boxes were thoroughly ticked.

They were clearly the better side throughout and rarely looked in danger from the moment Vaclav Cerny added Tom Lawrence’s early goal in the first half.

A much-changed visiting team rarely threatened after that and was ready for the minute. Cerny found his second lush finish of the night early in the second period. A fine evening for Clement was completed when Hamza Igamane climbed off the bench to claim his first goal for the club late on.

Rangers were good value for their second win in this new-look Europa League and will feel they are now in a good position to progress to the knockout round.

While the trips to Olympiacos and Nice can now be approached with a greater sense of optimism, it remains to be seen whether this is the turning point Clement was looking for. Honestly, we’ve been here before.

Until his side can get rid of the staccato form that brings displays like Kilmarnock’s as often as the ones we’ve seen here and in Malmö, the Belgian will have to overcome his cynics. This was a start, but it was nothing more than that.

On nights like this, Clement has to wonder why his players can’t repeat this level more often.

Being passive and predictable at the weekend, they played with pace and conviction. And that remains the most important issue; From one game to the next, you just don’t know which version of this Rangers side will walk out of the tunnel.

But the storm clouds have blown away in the coming days.

Those Rangers fans who feel their own club has become dysfunctional should be careful what they wish for.

Ahead of this match, Steaua owner and president Gigi Becali claimed he had picked a weakened team after going out with all guns blazing in the victory over city rivals Dinamo. And lo and behold, a whopping eight of the second stringers he promised would play did so.

To be honest, it showed. Rudderless and without any form of cohesion, they performed like a team that first met over breakfast.

After a dismal start to the season, Clement clearly did not have the luxury of playing as a reserve.

He largely instructed the players who found themselves in the hole on Sunday to dig their way out. From the side that started the defeat in Kilmarnock, only Leon Balogun and Nicolas Raskin displaced Robin Propper and Mohamed Diomande.

Lawrence, who admitted every word of criticism after Sunday was justified, retained his place behind the much-maligned Cyriel Dessers and was set to have a decisive say early in the match before succumbing to injury halfway through.

An indication of the current feeling towards Clement could now be seen in the vacant blue seats scattered around the stadium.

With the Romanians providing considerable and boisterous support, the atmosphere was decent, if not entirely excited.

It was a night when Rangers had to give their supporters something to cheer about. And to their credit, they eventually did.

Within two minutes, however, Ibrox’s recent vulnerability was once again exposed. Jack Butland’s footwork after taking in John Souttar’s routine pass was cumbersome.

David Miculescu grabbed his pocket and walked around him to the net. Fortunately for the goalkeeper, Italian referee Marco Di Bello blew for a foul.

Rangers’ response came via a shot from Raskin that was well handled by Stefan Tarnovanu and a strike from Cerny that resulted in a welcome corner.

Apart from the early scare, there was initially a lot more to see about Clement’s men than could be seen along the M77.

After ten minutes the opener was well worked out and not undeserved. James Tavernier’s clipped pass behind the Steaua defense was good for Cerny. The Czech weighed his options and pulled the ball back to the lurking Lawrence.

The Welshman didn’t hit the ball as cleanly as he would have liked, but he didn’t have to. His shot from 14 yards still had enough accuracy to find the net after hitting the inside of Tarnovanu’s post.

Rangers still made too many mistakes in possession. The difference with Sunday was that they made up ground and paid for them. Raskin and Connor Barron were particularly adept at putting out fires in midfield. They denied the visitors the chance to get into the rhythm.

A cheap foul from Balogun on the left side of his penalty area gave the Romanians a possible route back into the match.

Marius Stefanescu came close to Luis Phelipe, with Butland’s reflexes sending the attack over the top.

Having cursed his luck on that occasion, Phelipe would soon be filled with a sense of self-loathing as Rangers went two goals ahead just after the half-hour mark.

A woefully late pass saw the ball go to Cerny, with the Rangers winger immediately driving towards goal and setting up for a shot with his right foot. It was measured to perfection, starting outside the post but curving into the net for a stunning finish. Clement punched the air with joy. This was more like it.

The match was certainly meaty. Di Bello produced five yellow cards in a combative opening half, although not a single foul was worth a second look from the VAR.

With Steaua’s unfamiliar formation of sixes and sevens at the back, Rangers might well have been out of sight by the time the referee lifted the whistle for the break.

The third goal was always going to be crucial. A fine goalline block from Balogun early in the second period kept things from going Steaua’s way, while Tavernier’s surging attack kept the visitors confident for a few more minutes.

The match lasted 55 minutes. Diomande, who had replaced the stricken Lawrence at half-time, released Cerny with a gem of a ball from his own half. The Czech still had a lot of work to do but slalomed his way from left to right before burying the ball in the far corner.

Cerny was excellent throughout here, his movements and skills reminding you what he is capable of when he is on.

You could say the same for many others on Clement’s team.

Eradicating their tendency to follow dazzling performances after devilish performances is now his challenge.

This collective display was certainly on the level of anything Ibrox have seen in recent times, with a fourth goal deservedly coming eighteen minutes from time.

Substitute Igamane showed great cunning by turning Joyskim Dawa inside out and finding the far corner with a low strike. His first Rangers goal will certainly not be his last.