Daniel Taylor 

Champions League match ratings: Manchester United v Rangers

David Weir again proved to be a rock at the heart of the Rangers defence but Wayne Rooney had a game to forget at Old Trafford
  
  

Rangers' David Weir keeps a watchful eye on Manchester United's Javier Hernandez
Rangers' David Weir keeps a watchful eye on Manchester United's Javier Hernández. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

Manchester United

Tomasz Kuszczak 6

Allowed Edwin van der Sar a night's rest. Will seldom have an easier evening, with Rangers not managing a single noteworthy attempt

Wes Brown 6

First start of the season and the right-back found Rangers to be obliging opponents, rarely testing the theory that he might be rusty

Rio Ferdinand 6

First game back from a knee injury passed without him being overly extended. Slipped back into the team seamlessly

Chris Smalling 6

Lack of ambition from opponents made it a comfortable evening for the £10.75m recruit from Fulham last season

Fábio da Silva 6

An able deputy for Patrice Evra but he did not drive forward enough for someone who is known for his overlapping runs

Antonio Valencia 6

Valencia had not had one of his better games but it is difficult to overstate the importance of the setback his injury represents

Darren Fletcher 6

The only man to keep his place from Saturday's draw against Everton. A tireless shift but for all his qualities he does not offer great creativity

Darron Gibson 7

A competent display from the midfielder, including another demonstration of his ability to shoot from long distance

Park Ji-sung 6

Struggles to have the same impact as for his national team and for all the hard running he was unable to make a telling impact

Wayne Rooney 5

Things are just not clicking. His head will never drop and he did not play badly here – but his touch is not there at the moment

Javier Hernández 6

After his impressive form in pre-season the Mexican has flickered and he can look a little anxious at times

Substitutes

Ryan Giggs for Valencia 63mins

Michael Owen for Park 75mins

Jonny Evans for Fábio da Silva 75mins

Rangers

Allan McGregor 7

Would have expected a more pressing night and may feel that it was unnecessary to get booked for time-wasting

Kirk Broadfoot 7

Quick to the ball, strong in the tackle and one of the few Rangers defenders who had the licence to roam into attacking positions

David Weir 7

His curse as a 40-year-old is that it is difficult to mention him without bringing in his age but his longevity can only be admired

Madjid Bougherra 6

A number of telling interceptions and clearing headers but he was helped by the fact that United's strikers were so vapid

Sasa Papac 6

Like all of the Rangers back line, he can reflect on a decent night's work which thoroughly subdued United's attackers

Steven Whittaker 6

Deployed on the right side of defence, he acquitted himself well against Park Ji-sung and, after Valencia's injury, Ryan Giggs

Lee McCulloch 7

Job was to patrol the area between defence and midfield, and it was his presence that helped to negate United's forward thrusts

Maurice Edu 6

A neat and competent display in the centre of midfield, even if there were occasions when he was guilty of wasting possession

Steven Davis 7

One of the more assured Rangers players on the ball. A controlled and disciplined evening, showing a neat appreciation of space

Steven Naismith 7

Rangers attacks were so sporadic that we hardly saw him in an attacking sense but he stood out for his hard running and positional play

Kenny Miller 6

A difficult evening for the one striker in the team, frequently isolated and going long spells without being prominently involved

Substitutes

Kyle Lafferty for Miller 80mins

Rate the players online now

 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

*