STARTER PRAGUE

Skipper hopes clash with Czechs can get new boss off to Europa flyer just like Gio

- ANDY NEWPORT

A VICTORY over Sparta Prague was the launchpad for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Rangers as together they set course for Seville.

Now James Tavernier hopes another can ignite a fresh Euro thrill ride under Philippe Clement as the Light Blues aim for the stars again.

It's coming up on two years since van Bronckhorst was called back to Ibrox to replace Steven Gerrard.

The Dutchman's first match in charge of a team he'd spent three years pulling the strings for as a player was against a Sparta side that had already beaten Gerrard's Rangers in the Czech capital.

That Epet Arena setback followed defeat to Lyon in the group opener, putting Europa League progress in huge doubt.

But by the time van Bronckhorst arrived for his dugout debut in Round 5, Rangers only needed three points to qualify for the knockout stages.

Alfredo Morelos' double duly delivered what was required, setting up a fabulous four-month adventure that only came to its agonising end when Aaron Ramsey failed to put his penalty past Kevin Trapp in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

A return to the latter stages of this season's tournament seems unlikely given the disastrous start to the campaign - which hit its lowest ebb when the managerless Ibrox outfit crashed to Cypriot minnows Aris Limassol.

But with new boss Clement now in charge and looking to drive up standards, Tavernier isn't ruling it out.