Rangers can't shake off limited foe as two players make errors but new signing shows his worth

In a match low on quality in front of at times irked Ibrox, Ryan Naderi's 50th-minute goal was enough to defeat the limited visitors, who posed no threat whatsoever until Rangers substitute Cammy Devlin was dismissed with a quarter of the match to go for a reckless challenge. Even with a man advantage, Jablonec struggled to threaten.

Rangers were largely in control of a sedate affair which left some of the home crowd frustrated. Defender Emmanuel Fernandez took most of the ire for a wobbly performance in central defence. He was helped by new signing Otewul Makhanya, who was impervious and a deserved man of the match.

Rangers may regret not taking a bigger lead to Jablonec but, based on this match, they should have enough to advance to the main phase of the Conference League after the second leg.

In front of new Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland was once again left out of the starting XI, with Naderi leading the line. Dan Neil wore the armband in Shankland's absence and the former Sunderland player was the only change to the team that defeated St Mirren 5-1 on Sunday, with Nicolas Raskin dropping out due to an ankle injury.

Sitting second in the Czech League, Jablonec arrived in Glasgow on a six-game winning streak. They immediately brought boos from the home crowd by turning the team around at the coin toss and then going into a pre-match huddle, Celtic style.

Jablonec's hulking Gambian striker Lamin Jawo was causing issues with his physicality, but Rangers had the first shot on target on eight minutes when Djeidi Gassama cut in from the left and unleashed a fierce effort that was shovelled over the bar by visiting keeper Jan Hanus.

Fernandez was booked on 11 minutes for a crude tackle on Jawo and the Nigerian defender grew frustrated with the slackness ahead of him, while the fans in the stands showed their disgruntlement at some of his play.

Rangers had the next chance. Vanja Dragojevic saw a long-range strike whistle wide but the hosts struggled for creativity, most of their good work coming down the left from Gassama and James Penrice.

The on-loan AEK left-back came close to netting on 25 minutes with a low shot that Hanus blocked, before Dragojevic saw his shot deflected on to the post after being teed up by Naderi.

Any momentum from that chance quickly evaporated as Rangers spent the rest of the half huffing and puffing, with Jablonec keeping them at arm's length. There was no surprise to hear some home fans jeer at the interval.

McInnes resisted temptation to make changes at the break and Rangers returned with vigour. Within three minutes they had a claim for a penalty when Naderi was challenged inside the box but despite a long pause during the next break of play, Romanian referee Marian Barbu wasn't summoned to the monitor by VAR.

Rangers did not have to wait long for the opener, though. It arrived on 50 minutes when Neil sprayed an excellent ball to the far post, where Daisuke Yokota knocked the ball across goal and Naderi finished high into the guarded net with Hanus stranded.

The goal gave Rangers impetus. Once again Gassama and Penrice combined down the left, with the latter cross fired over the bar by Dragojevic. This tie was there for the taking on the night if Rangers could shift through the gears.

They really ought to have doubled their lead on 56 minutes. Dujon Sterling set Naderi free and his excellent cross just needed cushioned home on the volley by Gassama. Alas, the French winger didn't get his head over ball and sent it over the bar from inside the six-yard box. It was a dreadful miss.

Rangers ceded the control they had on 74 minutes when Devlin was given a straight red card for catching Jiri Slama with a tackle over the Czech's shin. It was missed by Barbu, but the official stopped the game in-play and after a check sent the Australian off. He had only been on the pitch for five minutes.

From pushing for a second, Rangers now had to protect their lead as Jablonec had a chance to show any signs of attacking life.

Jablonec saw more of the ball in the closing stages but the closest they came was in stoppage time when Richard Sedlacek curled over from a good position. Despite their shortcomings, the Czechs remain alive in this tie.