McLeish leads Rangers to a first

History means something very different to Alex McLeish and Rangers this morning. For McLeish, his "journey" at Ibrox may be at an end, but for the club there is a first taste of Champions League football at the latter stages of the European Cup as it is now constituted, writes Michael Walker at Ibrox

It is a remarkable situation. There are Rangers fans, and observers, who will vouch that this is the worst Ibrox team in living memory; yet they will also say that this outfit has somehow bluffed its way to somewhere Celtic never got under their former manager Martin O'Neill.

A 37th minute equaliser from Peter Lovenkrands, Adriano having put Internazionale ahead seven minutes earlier, combined with the 0-0 result in Bratislava between Artmedia and Porto, means McLeish's much-derided side have finished second in the group.

But who will be in charge of Rangers in February? That is now the question, because no matter what occurred here, this was McLeish's last stand. Names of possible replacements have come like confetti at a wedding but one serious contender, Graeme Souness, yesterday said "there is absolutely nothing in it" in response to speculation in the north-east he will leave Newcastle to return to Ibrox.

Despite the atmosphere of uncertainty clinging to the manager's position, last night's match was always going to be one of those near hysterical Ibrox occasions. It was certainly going to contrast with the empty San Siro that greeted the teams when they met in Milan in the second group game at the end of September.

Inter were still enduring their punishment - an empty ground - for last season's ugly scenes against their neighbours Milan, who they meet this Sunday in Serie A, hence the absence of players of the calibre of Luis Figo and Ivan Cordoba in Glasgow. That and the fact that Inter had already won the group.

When Ronald Waterreus punched clear a corner from Sinisa Mihajlovic on 28 minutes it was the prelude to Adriano's header just over a minute later. Once again Mihajlovic swung the ball in and Adriano pulled free of his supposed marker to nod in firmly.

Rangers had never established anything akin to an attacking pattern but it had not been for the lack of effort. But Inter's defence looked formidable against Rangers' lightweight forwards and it would need to be a measured pass through the visitors' defence to unlock them.

Seven minutes after Adriano scored, with Inter pressing, Thomas Buffel provided that pass. With Lovenkrands starting his run on the halfway line, Buffel split Inter and Lovenkrands was free. The Danish winger had a long way to go and composure to keep. But as he reached the penalty spot, with Francesco Toldo emerging to meet him, Lovenkrands just about squeezed his shot off Toldo's fingers and in.

RANGERS: Waterreus, Ricksen, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Murray, Burke, Ferguson, Malcolm, Namouchi, Buffel, Lovenkrands. Subs not used: Klos, Pierre-Fanfan, Thompson, Hutton, Jeffers, Smith, McCormack. Booked: Kyrgiakos, Andrews. Goal: Lovenkrands 38.

INTER MILAN: Toldo, Andreolli (Javier Zanetti 70), Mihajlovic, Materazzi (Momente 41), Burdisso, Solari, Cristiano Zanetti, Pizarro, Wome, Adriano (Maa Boumsong 81), Martins. Subs not used: Julio Cesar, Favalli, Cambiasso, Samuel. Sent off: Cristiano Zanetti (87). Booked: Cristiano Zanetti, Pizarro, Momente. Goal: Adriano 30.

Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria).