RANGERS ran themselves into the ground…. but hit The Wall.

Philippe Clement and the 50,000 Ibrox support couldn’t have asked for more effort from their team in this Europa League Battle of Britain.

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But it could have been even better had it not been for former Celtic No1 Fraser Forster.

Cyriel Dessers looked certain to score a last gasp winner after creating a late chance.

But Forster somehow made a sensational block to get his side a draw – and possibly keep Ange Postecoglou in a job.

This was a night when the home support applauded their team off the park.

When they can get up for work today with their heads held high. It’s onto Sunday now and an Old Firm cup final against Celtic.

And if they can reproduce this level of desire and determination that’s maybe not the forgone conclusion some say it is.

Clement had heroes all over the park as they competed and coped with one of the most attacking sides in the EPL.

It wasn’t long ago that Nico Raskin couldn’t get into Clement’s side.

The way he played here, he shouldn’t be out of it.

If anyone typified the grit and determination of this Rangers performance it was the wee fella.

James Maddison probably expected to have the run of Ibrox.

But time and again he got into dangerous positions before being snuffed out by the tigerish Raskin.

It was s surprise he didn’t have partner-in-crime Connor Barron alongside him the midfield engine room.

But Raskin was the all-action player Clement needed in there.

Sure, there was one moment when he got robbed of the ball and he would have been culpable had Spurs taken advantage.

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But the amount of times Raskin got into the right position to prevent a Spurs attack was so, so impressive.

He was the driving force in the team as he carried the fight to the London giants.

But the way Rangers were playing would have given Clement far more encouragement that Postecouglou.

The big Greek-Aussie looked furious with what he was getting from his side.

Timo Werner lost the ball so many times he was lucky he didn’t see his number go up for a substitution before the break.

As it was, there was zero surprise when he didn’t repeat after it with big Dejan Kulusevski taking his place.

Rangers definitely came closest to scoring before then.

Jefte fired one incredible ball across goal which almost saw Hamza Igamane score. Vaclav Cerny also coming close with a drilled shot which Fraser Forster – booed with every touch – did well to save.

The home support just craved more of the same for the second-half, plus some clinical finishing info front of goal.

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They also needed some luck having seen their best centre-back John Souttar limp off with a pulled groin after 33 minutes.

The Scotland defender has become a vital player for Clement this season and if he’s now out of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final with Celtic then it’s a blow to Rangers’ chances of upsetting the odds and getting their hands on that trophy.

Another Spurs huddle came before the start of the second-half.

But soon it was Rangers players grouped together celebrating a brilliant opener.

Tavernier’s assist from the right was sensational, his delivery into the box begging Igamane to go and beat Forster with.

And the striker obliged with a cool finish Ally McCoist, in the commentary box, would have been proud of.

With the 50,000 home support backing their team to the hilt – and the 2500 away support standing in silence – they looked shellshocked at going behind.

Mohamed Diomande – booked in the first-half for a daft handball – almost made it 2-0 with a shot that was deflected just wide.

Forster was scrambling and looked beaten.

Soon the former England No1 was smothering a cross aimed for Igamane which could easily ended up in his net.

Postecoglou made three changes at once to try and turn things. And the tempo and intensity to their play went up a level.