Danny Rohl’s Rangers again found the Europa League too much of a burden with a 2-1 defeat by Ferencvaros in Budapest.

Gers striker Bojan Miovski scored an acrobatic opener in the 27th minute with the visitors’ first shot on goal.

However, Bence Otvos levelled for Robbie Keane’s side in the fifth of five added minutes at the end of the first half when the Ibrox side let their guard down.

The Light Blues offered almost nothing of an attacking threat after the break and they succumbed again in the 73rd minute when Ferencvaros striker Barnabas Varga easily headed in from close range to leave the Gers effectively out of the tournament.

Keane, a former Celtic player, celebrated jubilantly after the final whistle and said to Hungarian media he was delighted with the win.

“We were the better team from the start. The opposition took the lead, I don’t think we deserved the goal we conceded. I’ll have to look back on the night. I’m not sure if it was a legal goal.

“But we controlled the game and that’s important to me. Rangers gave exactly what I expected. It didn’t surprise me at all.

“We showed intense football tonight too, this game is really close to my heart. The top sixteen is not far away, but I am not thinking about that right now.

When asked about getting his 10th international victory with the team, equalling their club legend Tibor Nyilasi, Keane said:

“Winning is in my blood. I didn’t know about this record, but of course if it is, I am very proud of it. I love winning, it gives me energy. I am happy that I have already left my mark in the history of Ferencváros.”

Elsewhere, Igor Jesus’ late goal sealed Nottingham Forest a 2-1 win in Utrecht and boosted their hopes of a top-eight finish in the Europa League group phase.

Arnaud Kalimuendo’s second-half opener for Forest was cancelled out by Utrecht substitute Mike van der Hoorn before Jesus stepped off the bench to fire the visitors’ late winner.

Midtjylland extended their strong Europa League ‍form on Thursday with a 1-0 home win over Belgian side KRC. Genk to rise to the top ‍of the table.