AS Nathan Patterson wrapped tape round his ankles and prepared to enter the action, Steven Gerrard stood over him and had one final word in his ear.

It is unlikely that the message would have been ‘go and win us the game, son’. That is what the 19-year-old did, though. Talk about going from zero to hero.

Patterson would watch the first leg of this bizarre, barnstorming tie on his couch last Thursday night with his Rangers career hanging by a thread. A week later, he would play his part in a victory that takes Gerrard’s side into the last 16 of the Europa League.

Patterson, alongside Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu, who made a late appearance off the bench, was fortunate to be given a second chance after his Covid rule break, but he certainly made the most of it.

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His attendance at a house party in Glasgow could have ended his Ibrox career but it may now prove to be the making of it after taking the first step, or perhaps a huge stride, along the road to redemption.

His second half strike was the third of a weird and wonderful fixture. Alfredo Morelos opened the scoring and Ryan Kent, Borna Barisic and Cedric Itten would score after Patterson as Rangers emerged as 9-5 winners on aggregate and progressed to the next round.

The Europa League has given Gerrard some of his most memorable evenings as Rangers manager but they haven’t always been good for the heart rate or the blood pressure. Indeed, it was at this stage last term that Braga were beaten 3-2 on a wonderful night at Ibrox before victory in Portugal.

Progression to the last 16 for a second consecutive season would have been the target before a ball was kicked this term. Rangers got there once again, but they didn’t make it easy for themselves.

The 4-3 victory first time around was a rollercoaster ride of a game that was fun for the neutral but stressful for those with an affiliation. It was one where there were plenty of positives for Gerrard to take, but he couldn’t be entirely satisfied with events and the same will be said second time around.

He would have been hoping for a more controlled and comfortable return leg but that didn’t materialise. After successive 3-3 draws with Benfica and that seven-goal thriller in Belgium, this was another frantic but fascinating 90 minutes of European action.

It was evident last week that Antwerp were there to be exploited at the back and the Belgians were once again slack in their own third. Somehow, Rangers could only take advantage once during a half that ended with the scores level and their advantage overall preserved.

The finish from Morelos was clinical but the build-up was comical. Jérémy Gelin was seemingly oblivious to the threat and presence of Kent as he attempted a slack pass on the edge of the area and keeper Ortwin De Wolf found himself stranded.

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Kent would pick out Morelos and skipper Ritchie De Laet couldn’t prevent the Colombian slotting home as Rangers’ record scorer in European competition added another one to his tally. It should have set Gerrard’s side on their way to a straightforward win.

The front three was looking sharp at that stage and Morelos was leading the way. Kent had fired just wide of target early on, while Ianis Hagi should have done better with a powerful shot from a tight angle.

The second goal would have won the game and the tie for Rangers, but it was Antwerp who would score it. They still needed a remarkable turn of events, but they at least had hope after the break.

Rangers have been so resolute in the Premiership this term but surprisingly flimsy at times on the continent and that failing came back to cost them. When it did, they couldn’t say they hadn’t been warned.

The first moment of concern came when Aurélio Buta fired wide of target after being picked out by Jordan Lukaku. Minutes later, the winger got his assist.

Leon Balogun was exposed at right-back and Joe Aribo couldn’t prevent Refaelov beating McGregor with a neat finish. There was another moment of concern as McGregor required a second chance to gather an effort from Pieter Gerkens.

The change at the break was the one that had to be made, but it was still a surprise. It saw the return of Patterson as he replaced Balogun and was given his shot at atonement.

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Within seconds, he had taken it. A pass from Morelos sent him free and he would show real composure to beat De Wolf and score his first goal in the most remarkable of circumstances.

The 19-year-old had expressed his sorrow and contrition in an interview with RangersTV on Wednesday and the reaction of his team-mates spoke volumes. It will take some time for people to forget, but this was some way to help them begin to forgive.

That was the goal that clinched the tie for Rangers. Within minutes, they had the goal that won the game as well as Kent made it 3-1.

The build-up from Morelos was sensational once again. This was one of those nights where the Colombian was just in the mood and in the zone and he would power by Martin Hongla and set up Kent, who made no mistake from close range.

Rangers just had to see it out now but once again they were complicit in their own issues. Connor Goldson and McGregor couldn’t deal with a ball over the top and collided into each other, leaving Didier Lamkel Ze to make it 3-2 on the night going into the final half an hour. Ze would get in behind once again but lost his composure when a goal would made Rangers think.

They need not sweat in the end. A Barisic penalty – his third in these two games – was emphatic and Itten converted from the spot with the final chance, and final goal, of this tie. Rangers’ superiority would show in the end.

These fixtures will live long in the memory for a variety of reasons. Gerrard is probably pleased to see the back of them, though, as attentions turn to the draw on Friday afternoon.

Time will tell how far Rangers can go this term. Whatever happens, they are unlikely to have a more dramatic tie than this one.