Key events
“Can I be the first of many to propose ‘Brann Flakes’ for tomorrow’s breakfast headlines?” emails Keith Buchanan.
That’s excellent, Keith.
GOAL! Brann 3-0 Rangers (Noah Holm 79)
A simple goal, as Noah Holm has all the time in the world to control a cross on the penalty spot and leather his shot past Jack Butland. It’s true that Röhl might not be fully chastised for this defeat, given he is only three days into the job, but this is not a very good look. All McCoist, Rangers legend and TNT co-commentator tonight, started the night in optimistic mood, but is struggling to make sense of this performance now. That will be three defeats from three games in the Europa League for Rangers, who are also struggling domestically, sixth in the table and hosting Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Buendia misses the penalty for Villa! Go Ahead Eagles still lead 2-1!
In a swirling wind, Buendia opts to try and find the top corner and gets it all wrong, blazing the ball over the bar! A dreadful effort and the stadium erupts! The camera cuts to Emery and Villa fans in the away end, all of whom are cursing and gesturing towards the Argentinian. Ooooof.
Penalty to Villa!
It’s a soft one, Cash’s cross clearly catches the hand of Dean James but there was nothing the Indonesia international could do about it, just a yard or two away from the Villa right back when he kicked it.
Emery has brought a lot of the big hitters off the bench – Rogers, McGinn, Cash, Kamara – as they try to get an equaliser. Rogers has just hit the outside of Go Ahead Eagles’ post through a cross/shot from an acute angle. Maatsen has just flashed a dangerous low cross across the face of goal. Villa are getting closer.
GOAL! Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Aston Villa (Deijl 61)
Go Ahead Eagles come from behind to lead! It’s the right back and captain Mats Deijl with the goal for the Dutch side, latching onto a fine lofted through ball and finishing delicately over Martínez with a little dink! Unai Emery, half-hiding in his anorak, looks absolutely miserable on the sidelined as he is getting pelted by the rain.
Rangers have an immediate chance to get a goal back, but Mikey Moore, the teenager on loan from Tottenham, blazes his effort over the bar from the penalty spot! He really should have hit the target after a fine cross from Meghoma.
GOAL! Brann 2-0 Rangers (Sorensen 56)
Bad to worse for Rangers and Röhl! Awful marking from a set piece as Jacob Sorensen bundles the ball into the net, doubling Brann’s lead! This is woeful stuff from the Scottish side.
Villa are pushing for another go-ahead goal at Go Ahead Eagles. Buendia looks full of confidence following his weekend winner against Spurs, but overall they are finding things a bit tricky in windy and wet conditions.
Villa are wearing their third kit for the first time, a blue and white number, which feels all wrong. The club describes the design as “paying homage to the rich history and unique architecture of Villa Park, drawing direct inspiration from the signature stained glass windows that have adorned the stadium since it first opened in 1897”.
This is a Europa League blog, but this is what is happening in the Conference League tonight. In the early kick-offs, Aberdeen are getting a pasting at AEK Athens and Shelbourne are involved in a goalless draw in North Macedonia.
Crystal Palace face Cypriot side AEK Larnaca at Selhurst Park later on. The Lincoln Red Imps play Lech Poznan and Shamrock Rovers host Slovenian side Celje.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa have been pegged back to 1-1 by Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles after Evann Guessand scored his first goal for Unai Emery’s side, capitalising on a rebound after some very questionable goalkeeping from Jari De Busser, who failed to snaffle a Jadon Sancho cross.
Go Ahead Eagles equalised through a deflected strike from Mathis Suray after a clever set-piece play.
Half-time scores from the early kick-offs
Appointed only on Monday, this is Danny Röhl’s first game in charge of Rangers, who are 1-0 down at half-time to Norwegian side Brann. Emil Kornvig scored a tap-in at teh back post after a deflected cross.
Not a great start for the German manager, although there is 45 minutes for Rangers to rectify things. Here is some background to Röhl’s appointment this week, courtesy of Ewan Murray.
Preamble
Breaking to your loved ones that a third consecutive night of continental football is beckoning – when there are chores to do, Celebrity Traitors to watch and children to put to bed – but the Europa League isn’t going to watch itself, and where else would you get written updates on Braga v Red Star Belgrade?*
*I am attempting to cover a total of 18 matches of football with just two typing hands, so please be kind if I miss the odd goal.
The Europa League may have been usurped in the hipster stakes by the Conference League but it remains arguably the most interesting European club competition, from which the eventual victors could come from all over the continent.
We join the evening at the mid-way point in the early 5.45pm BST kick off – we’ll bring you the half-time scores from those imminently – before gearing up for the 8pm BST kick-offs, which are below.
Let’s get it!
