Edu turns from hero to villain for Rangers

Rangers continued their unbeaten start to their Champions League Group C campaign with a 1-1 draw with Valencia as a second-half Maurice Edu own goal cancelled out his 35th minute opener.

Rangers missed chances through Steven Naismith and Kenny Miller before American international Edu headed the home side into a well deserved lead ten minutes before the break.

However, the midfielder watched in horror as his header from 15 yards out flew past his own keeper just 45 seconds after the break to send Valencia level.

Both sides enjoyed opportunities to claim all three points with Rangers defender Richard Foster missing an empty net as Walter Smith’s side had to settle for a point that leaves them in second place two points adrift of Manchester United, who beat Bursaspor 1-0.

Smith said he felt the draw was a chance missed.

“Valencia had a few opportunities to score … but ours were maybe the more clear cut ones,” the Gers gaffer said.

“I feel a little bit disappointed we didn’t take the three points with the chances we created.”

Valencia counterpart Unai Emery thought a draw was a fair result.

“We didn’t expect Rangers to create as many chances as they did,” he opined.

“We came here to win the game but could have ended up losing it.”

Kirk Broadfoot and Lee McCulloch failed to recover from injury meaning Foster and Vladimir Weiss were handed their Champions League debuts.

Valencia dominated early possession but didn’t take their chances as Spanish international Pablo Hernandez twice failed to test Allan McGregor in goal and Jeremy Mathieu volleyed wide.

Rangers were hemmed into their own half for the opening 15 minutes but were presented with a superb chance to take the lead in the 18th minute.

Miller’s lofted pass was met by Naismith in the box but the forward didn’t get enough on it and his shot was stopped by Cesar Sanchez.

The keeper came to the rescue a minute later when Naismith picked out Miller but the Scotland striker sent his header straight at Cesar from a tight angle.

The Spaniard then tipped over a fierce Sasa Papac strike before Miller beat the offside trap to race in on goal but Cesar rushed out to block his low shot as the keeper single-handedly kept Valencia in the game.

Confusion in the Rangers defence then allowed David Navarro a free header at the back post but he sent Juan Mata’s cross wide.

After his earlier heroics it was Cesar who was at fault as Rangers took a well-deserved lead in the 34th minute when American midfielder Edu rose above him to head a Weiss corner into the net from five yards.

Rangers were presented with a golden chance to double their lead in the 42nd minute. Edu fired a superb low drive from 25 yards which cracked off the base of the post but Miller sent the rebound sailing over the bar from 12 yards under no pressure.

Hero Edu turned villain 45 seconds after the break when the American somehow managed to head Tino Costa’s free-kick past his own keeper from 15 yards.

An Aritz Aduriz volley was well-saved before Juan Mata side-footed over the bar as the Spanish side pressed for a winner.

Madjid Bougherra had a late effort saved before McGregor came to the rescue to save a vicious Roberto Soldado strike in the final moments as both sides had to settle for a point.