Rangers gained Europa League revenge on Progres Niederkorn but without exacting cruel retribution as they edged past their old foes with a goalless draw in Luxembourg.
Gers were back at the scene of their worst ever European result as they returned to the Stade Josy Barthel to face the part-time minnows.
But there was no repeat of the nightmare that befell Pedro Caixinha’s side two years ago as they ground out a 2-0 aggregate win.
Last week’s Ibrox strikes from Joe Aribo and Sheyi Ojo proved to be a big enough cushion for Steven Gerrard’s team as they set up a third qualifying round showdown with Danes Midtjylland.
Skipper James Tavernier – making his 200th Gers appearance – and Ryan Jack were the only survivors of that shock result to start again and given the painful memories of what had occurred before, the nerves among the travelling Glasgow faithful were understandable.
They would have been settled inside the first 11 minutes had Arfield’s shot gone in rather than hit the woodwork.
But Arfield refused to give it up and came close to killing the tie stone dead as he squeezed the ball through Flauss’ legs from an impossible angle, only to see it bounce back off the post.
Gerrard admitted his side had left themselves with work to do after the first leg at Ibrox after only building a two-goal lead – and his players were reminded of that fact as Metin Karayer and Emmanuel Francoise got onto crosses inside their box.
McGregor could only push Mayron De Almeida’s strike back into traffic, Francoise nudged it on but Niederkorn captain Sebastien Thill failed to capitalise as he fired over the bar.
It was his last involvement as Morelos was introduced but the Colombian could not find the late winner either as Progres twice scrambled back to deny him tap-ins after Ojo’s pace and trickery had exploited tiring Niederkorn legs.
