This is where Rangers belong as trademark concession leaves team on life support

Finally off the mark after five games in this competition, one point here was not enough. Not against bang average Portuguese opponents that played the final half-hour a goal and a man down - yet still salvaged a share of the spoils.

The reality for Rangers is that they are several levels beneath the team that reached the quarter-finals last season. They belong in the nether regions of the league table. Ten points and a respectable goal difference was the bare minimum to make the knock-out stages a year ago and it is likely the same is required this time around.

Rangers' final three matches are Ferencvaros away and Porto away, with Ludogorets Razgrad at Ibrox sandwiched in between. The goal will be to still have a pulse when they next face a team from Portugal. It is a tall order.

Too many Rangers players simply aren't up to Europa League level. James Tavernier opened the scoring with a penalty but even with Braga's main forward Rodrigo Salazar sent off, the hosts shot themselves in the foot with trademark slapstick defending to let the visitors back in.

Braga started well enough on a gusty night in Govan. Rangers keeper Jack Butland had made two smart saves by the 15-minute mark, pushing away a low drive from Ricardo Horta and then thwarting Zalazar as he bore down on goal.

Deployed in 4-2-3-1 formation, Rangers were competitive in midfield but wasteful with their distribution. The game fell into an error-strewn rhythm as both teams struggled with conditions.

Rangers finished the half stronger as Braga were penned in. Danilo missed a good chance on 33 minutes when slipped in by Mohamed Diomande, firing straight at Lukas Hornicek from just inside the penalty box.

The hosts were given a helping hand in stoppage time when Fran Navarro batted clear a corner. The Rangers players didn't claim for it, but on the advice of VAR, a spot-kick was awarded and Tavernier sent Hornicek the wrong way.

Chermiti ought to have doubled that advantage on 57 minutes when he failed to convert from close range at the back post, before a Diomande effort was turned away by Hornicek.

VAR once again came to Rangers' assistance just a couple of minutes later when Zalazar was deemed to have aimed a headbutt at Raskin. Braga would play the last half-an-hour with ten men.

It did not deter them. Rangers came bearing early Christmas gifts on 70 minutes. First Emmanuel Fernandez was slack with a back-pass that Butland cleared for a throw. Then Nasser Djiga didn't deal with the ball into the box and Gabri Martinez prodded it home.

The numerical advantage did not immediately show. Braga did not go into lockdown mode. They sensed a chance was there for them. It nearly came on 80 minutes when VAR checked a potential Bojan Miovski handball in the box but this time no penalty was awarded.

The visitors ended the game in the ascendancy as Rangers continued to gift the ball to them. Butland was nearly caught out by a corner. Diomande was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence. The final whistle was greeted with grumbles and some boos. Mediocrity reigns at Ibrox right now.