Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers left frustrated by Rangers and Celtic in Europa League qualifying

Rangers beat Ufa 1-0 at Ibrox while Celtic drew 1-1 with Suduva in Lithuania but both sides missed chances to extend their advantage in their respective ties

Steven Gerrard directs from the touchline (Getty Images)

Connor Goldson kept Rangers on track for the Europa League group stages as his goal handed Steven Gerrard’s side a 1-0 win over Ufa.

The former Brighton defender’s close-range header ensures Rangers head to the Russian Republic of Bashkortostan next Thursday packing a slender first-leg lead.

The result saw Gerrard rack up his 10th game without defeat since taking over in the summer but the Gers boss was frustrated his side did not put the tie to bed.

He said: “Is our lead enough? I’d like a bigger advantage, of course I would. Listen, we’ve got another tough game next week. The clean sheet might be important, that’s certainly a positive. We won’t be getting carried away.

“We understand and respect the opposition and we need a performance full of heroes and warriors next week. But we are capable of going there, being hard to play against and defending well like we’ve shown before. We are also capable of getting an important away goal.

“It would be a shame (if we missed out on the group stages) – we’ve got to go there and make sure it’s not a shame.”

Earlier Celtic moved a step closer to the Europa League group stage with a 1-1 draw against Suduva in the first leg of their play-off in Lithuania although defensive concerns continue.

Alfredo Morelos reacts after a missed opportunity (Getty)

Midfielder Olivier Ntcham got the visitors off to a perfect start in the ARVI Football Arena when he headed in a Mikey Johnston cross in the third minute.

However, Ovidijus Verbickas levelled in the 13th minute with a headed goal which frustrated Brendan Rodgers, the Hoops boss having lamented poor defending in the Champions League qualifying exit at AEK Athens last week.

Home keeper Ivan Kardum pulled off a series of saves, notably from James Forrest and Johnston, as the visitors dominated the first half.

But Craig Gordon had to make a couple of crucial blocks after the break, with the draw leaving the Scottish champions some work to do next week although they should finish the job off in Glasgow.

“We gave away a soft goal,” said Rodgers. “That is a real, real concern now. We are not giving away many chances but we don’t defend the set-piece well enough. It’s an away European goal, we go back next week to finish the job, but as I’ve said before I look to the performance level and we weren’t quite where we would want to be.

“We seem to lack concentration. That is a problem for us. And a pride, really, in terms of defending. That is pretty clear. In games like this one, especially away from home, we have got to really demonstrate that hunger not to concede. And it was too easy for them.

“It was a terrific ball in, don’t get me wrong, but we have to defend it much better than that. It gave them some oxygen in the game when our start and early goal shouldn’t have. I thought we made really hard work of it, to be honest.”

PA