Danny Rohl makes Rangers performance claim, refutes character issue and addresses Findlay Curtis snub

Rangers led the Portuguese side thanks to a penalty from captain James Tavernier in first-half stoppage time and were given a further boost when Braga's Rodrigo Zalazar was sent off on 61 minutes for aiming a headbutt at Nicolas Raskin.

However, Rangers did not take advantage of their numerical superiority and Braga levelled eight minutes later through Gabri Martinez after an individual error from centre-half Nasser Djiga, with the visitors looking just as likely to find a winner. The hosts lost midfielder Mohamed Diomade at the end to his own red card and the draw was greeted with boos by the Rangers fans.

After losing their first four matches in Europe, Rangers are now at least off the mark - but sitting on one point in 33rd position, they would need to defeat Ferencvaros away, Ludogorets Razgrad at home and then Porto away in their final three matches to stand any chance of reaching the knock-out stages.

Head coach Rohl admitted such a prospect is slim, but said that the damage was done by previous defeats by Genk, Sturm Graz, SK Brann and Roma - and not by their performance against Braga.

"Of course I think this [the 1-1 draw] is disappointing," said Rohl, "but I look at the first 60 minutes and it was the first time that I felt my team was competitive in Europe. I think this is the step forward. At the end of course we want to win, we have to win such games, we have to close the gaps.

"But I really must say, the first 60 minutes today, we were on front foot, we were winning balls, we were not clinical always in the transition moments. We created chances, we deserved to lead.

"And then in the second half, I felt really good that we controlled the game. And then it's one moment, and this is what we know in this competition. It could be you make one mistake and then a conceded goal.

"It was really the first step forward to see a team who was competitive in Europe. And in 60 minutes it was the case.”

Asked if it would take a miracle to stay in this competition, Rohl responded. "Yeah, if you want, you see the table. I think this is not today, it's about the last four games in this competition as well.

"I think if you have just one point after five games, then of course you have to think about this. And I know, I thought by myself, we always want to be straight, 100 per cent quality performance very soon, but please, I've been here since four weeks, and when I see the difference between Bergen and today, 60 minutes, then I see a big difference."

Rohl refuted any suggestion that letting the lead slip was down to the character of his players.

"For me it's not about character of the group," said the German. "When I see how hard they work, since I'm here, when I see which effort they put in, they have an outstanding character. The different thing is the experience on this level of the club. There is of course pressure, there is expectation, this is what you have to learn, and when you arrive here, you have to deliver again and again.

"But I will help them, and I think today, in some moments, you always have the chance to support the players, which I try always, or you give them a negative feeling, and I try always to be positive, because I know the self-confidence of a player is such an important thing."

Teenage forward Findlay Curtis was once again left on the bench as Rangers chased a winner and Rohl was pressed as to why the 19-year-old was once more not given a chance.

"He was injured, ten days he was out, and now we are back, and now you have to wait and you have to work hard," added Rohl. "I am very clear with him. He will get his opportunity. Now it's about when, and if I see he's ready, then I put him on.

"I think for me I'm very clear, I'm very honest with him. I had three days ago a conversation with him, where he is at the moment, and from this part we are going forward."