Ruthless Brann hand Rohl defeat in Rangers debut

Danny Rohl’s first match in charge of Rangers ended in disappointment as Norwegian side Brann delivered a ruthless display to condemn the visitors to the bottom of their Europa League group, Sport360NG reports.

Goals from Emil Kornvig and Jacob Sorensen either side of half-time put the hosts in control, before Noah Holm’s late strike sealed a comprehensive 3-0 win in Bergen.

Rohl, appointed only three days earlier, was never likely to transform a side struggling for confidence overnight, and the same flaws that have plagued Rangers’ season resurfaced on a difficult night in Norway.

There were brief flashes of promise early on as Rangers began with purpose and pressed aggressively. Youssef Chermiti squandered a decent chance from Joe Rothwell’s pass, and Jack Butland was called upon several times to keep his side in contention.

Brann eventually broke through when Bard Finne’s deflected effort fell kindly for Kornvig, who converted from close range. Sorensen added a second shortly after the restart, glancing Finne’s free-kick past the helpless Butland as Rangers’ defensive organisation again faltered.

The Scottish side struggled to create clear chances as Brann grew increasingly comfortable, and Holm’s emphatic finish late on capped a convincing win for the home team.

Analysis: Rohl Faces an Uphill Task

Rohl cannot be blamed for this result. With only a handful of training sessions under his belt, the 36-year-old German is still familiarising himself with his squad and surroundings.

Rangers’ issues run far deeper than one match. Their defensive vulnerabilities, lack of cohesion, and fragile confidence will require time and patience to address.

There were brief positives, a structured 4-4-2 shape off the ball and signs that Nico Raskin could be used as a deep-lying playmaker when building from the back, but old habits quickly returned.

Set-piece frailties remain a glaring concern: Rangers have now conceded 10 goals from such situations across all competitions this season, excluding penalties, more than any other side in the Scottish Premiership.

Rohl’s long-term challenge will be to restore belief and structure to a team that has looked directionless for much of the campaign.

Match Stats

Brann have recorded consecutive European victories without conceding for the first time since September 1977 (Cup Winners’ Cup).

Rangers are winless in their last six Europa League matches (D1 L5), their longest such run in the competition.

The defeat was Rangers’ heaviest ever away loss in the Europa League, equalling their joint-biggest margin in the competition, a 4-1 home defeat to Lyon in October 2024.