THE theory is that the further you progress through the rounds the more difficult the hurdles are to overcome. Maribor presented the toughest test to date for Rangers but it is one they are now close to passing with flying colours.

Victory at Ibrox – courtesy of goals from Alfredo Morelos, James Tavernier and Lassana Coulibaly – has given Steven Gerrard’s side something to both build on and hold on to.

Having overcome Shkupi and then stepped it up against Osijek, Rangers will need to raise the bar once again when they head to Slovenia on Thursday night. Given the progression they gave shown to date, it is a challenge they are more than capable of rising to.

This wasn’t their most accomplished overall performance of the season so far but it was undoubtedly their biggest win of Gerrard’s reign. 

In spells, Rangers were dominant as the energy coursed through the team and reverberated around the stadium. 

Now, a draw will do them and set up a meeting with Ufa or Progres Niederkorn in the play-off round.

The focus in the hours leading up to kick-off was on the transfer market as two players – Declan John and Josh Windass – headed for the exit door and joined Swansea and Wigan respectively. Crucially, one – Tavernier – stayed at Ibrox and was in the starting line-up.

Rangers rejected an approach from West Bromwich Albion for their captain on Wednesday and another bid on deadline day would also have met with the same response.

The right-back may split opinion amongst some supporters but he is an important part of the way in which the side play and he will remain integral to Gerrard’s squad. Here, his influence and impact were crucial as he put talk over his future behind him to focus on the job in hand.

The 90 minutes against Maribor was always going to be the most important task of the day for Gerrard and it was one he was never going to treat lightly.

The objectives were twofold here for Rangers as they attempted to take a win, and a clean sheet, to Slovenia for the second leg. They couldn’t manage the double but it was still another positive night for the Light Blues as supporters’ excitement levels moved up another notch. 

Gerrard’s side got off to a dream start as Morelos put them ahead after just six minutes but Maribor quickly gathered themselves and proved that they hadn’t just travelled to Glasgow to stifle their hosts. Come the end of an entertaining evening, it was Rangers who were rightly celebrating, though. 

Rangers were quick out of the blocks and when Scott Arfield won the ball from Marko Suler on the edge of the area, Ibrox rose in anticipation. Ryan Kent saw his effort saved by Jasmin Handanovic but Morelos was on hand to convert from just yards out.

The Colombian clearly enjoyed the moment as he celebrated with the home crowd and Gerrard would have hoped his side could build on their early effort.

Rangers continued to press and probe at the Maribor defence but the second goal never really looked like coming during a first half lull. From 25 yards, Tavernier fired a free-kick straight into the wall.

The visitors started to grow into proceedings and Ibrox sensed the Slovenians were more than capable of causing their side problems.

Marcos Tavares broke and set up Derisevic but Allan McGregor made a good save from a sweetly struck strike. Thankfully for Rangers, Tavernier was on hand to block the follow-up.

Gerrard would have been concerned at how the flow of the game had shifted and it was Maribor that were now looking like grabbing the second goal of the evening.

Sasa Ivkovic spurned two chances as he found time and space inside the area and headed wide from a free-kick and then a corner. Soon, the ball was in the net again.

It was the Gers fans that were cheering, but only briefly. Morelos thought he had his second of the night but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Keeper Handanovic breathed a sigh of relief after he had gifted the ball to Candeias but the Portuguese opted to square his pass rather than finish himself and Maribor were let off the hook.

Within minutes, they had made the most of their reprieve and few inside Ibrox would have said that they didn’t deserve it on the balance of play.

Derisevic was involved once again as he switched the ball from right to left and Viler did the rest, and in some style. From the angle of the area, he found the top corner of McGregor’s net with a terrific strike that left the keeper with no chance and the home crowd stunned.

It could have got worse for Rangers before the break but Derisevic fired just wide from the edge of the box. The interval and the chance to regroup came at just the right time for Gerrard and his players.

The Gers boss got exactly the reaction he would have been looking for and within four minutes of the restart his side were ahead once again.

Handanovic had pulled off a smart stop to deny Coulibaly but Rangers kept the pressure on and their perseverance paid off.

Morelos collected a long ball from Connor Goldson and got the better of Suler. When the defender bundled him over, referee Roi Reinshreiber had no choice but to point to the spot.

Tavernier took centre stage and didn’t fluff his lines when the spotlight was on. His penalty was clinical and the goal meant plenty to him and his team-mates.

Rangers had what they needed but they weren’t content and happy to settle. Tavernier almost scored a spectacular third, while Goldson burst forward from defence and fired over from distance.

Chances thereafter were few and far between. Neither side would have been completely satisfied, but both would have been content as the clock ticked on.

There was a control and professionalism about the way in which Rangers went about their business. It wasn't just better, it was very good.

With nine minutes remaining, Kent had a chance to give Rangers breathing space but he couldn’t convert after Handanovic parried a Candeias cross.

Gerrard didn’t need to wait long, though. A Tavernier free-kick was cleared and recycled to Murphy and the winger picked out Coulibaly, who nodded the ball beyond Handanovic.

It was a goal that confirmed the victory for Rangers and changed the complexion of the tie. There is still work to be done, but the job is almost complete once again for Gerrard.