Rangers were booed at Ibrox as calamity defending against Club Brugge left their Champions League hopes in the balance after a 3-1 first-leg defeat in their play-off tie.

A bit of luck against Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen gave the Gers hope of a return to European football’s elite club competition, but simple mistakes left them 2-0 down after just seven minutes.

Nasser Djiga failed to deal with a bouncing ball inside his half, allowing Romeo Vermant to race in and dink the ball over Jack Butland from 30 yards.

They switched off again leaving Jorne Spileers unmarked to send the ball in from a corner, with some home fans then heading for the exits when Brandon Mechele fired in a brilliant third.

Jayden Meghoma was handed his Rangers debut and his cross set up Danilo to pull a goal back after the break.

Djeidi Gassama thought he had pulled them back into the tie late on, but his goal was disallowed after a VAR review, with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet judged to have two hands on the ball when Gassama prodded it over the line.

Is Champions League football out of reach for another season?

Cheers quickly turned to jeers at Ibrox once again as a horror mistake by Djiga allowed Tzolis’ pass to give Vermant an easy finish to stun everyone inside the ground.

The Gers fans were still getting their head around that early goal when Tzolis’ corner from the right was knocked past Butland by the unmarked Spileers from 12 yards.

The boos that rang round the ground intensified when Mechele, making his 500th appearance for Brugge, stepped all too easily in front of Danilo just outside the Rangers box and gave Butland no chance with an arrowed right-footed drive to put the visitors three up in 20 minutes.

Light Blues midfielder Joe Rothwell clipped the outside of a post with a free-kick from 25 yards in the 26th minute but it was not the signal for a comeback as Butland had to brilliantly beat away a drive from Carlos Forbes, with the home defence again split open.

A three-goal deficit at the break left the Gers support in a state of shock but they got a lifeline when Danilo slid in to convert an enticing cross from Meghoma.

Brugge stepped up the pace and amid a flurry of corners, Butland made a fine from Joel Ordonez.

Gassama had the ball in the Brugge net in the 78th minute but French referee Francois Letexier was asked by VAR to check his pitchside monitor and quickly decided that Mignolet had the ball in his hands before it was bundled into the net.

The Light Blues second-half display was heartening but it was a nightmare first 20 minutes which keeps the spotlight on Russell Martin for the wrong reasons.

Martin: ‘It’s not a quick fix’

Rangers head coach Russell Martin:

“You can’t impact anything at that point (3-0 down) so it’s the most difficult situation.

“You’re desperate for half-time to sit down and assess things with the players. It was really difficult, but I’m pleased with their response.

“I came to this club knowing it wasn’t going to be easy. It’s not a quick fix. I hope we’ll be judged in May and by then we’ll be in a really good place.

“Hopefully we’ll be competing and winning stuff, it’s as simple as that. This early I didn’t expect anything but a bit of pain.

“It’s been the same at every club I’ve been at. You get a job because the team is struggling and rarely do you get the chance to just build on something.

“I want to change a lot and in the second half tonight, the energy of the fans – we’re going to need more of that.

“I’m proud of them for that and the team will grow.”

Boyd: No positives for Rangers to take

Sky Sports’ Kris Boyd:

“I know you can see mistakes, but it’s been happening far too often for Rangers this season.

“The first goal, there’s a total mix-up. Djiga’s got to deal with it and (John) Souttar should be covering anyway, but lovely finish – take nothing away from Vermant.

“After the second one, as well, Rangers decided to go zonal – there’s nobody picking [him up]. It’s just a free hit at goal.

“Jack Butland with absolutely no chance of saving that, which he’ll be really disappointed with. Especially at this level, you can’t be giving free attempts at goal.

“Rangers rallied a little bit and got the goal through Danilo – good ball in from Meghoma down the left-hand side – but too little, too late for me.

“Rangers’ European dreams are in tatters tonight, that’s for sure, but take nothing away from Club Brugge.

“It does look as if it’s going to be a step too far for Rangers. You just never know, but there’s one thing that’s an absolute certainty, Rangers have got a huge league game in Paisley at the weekend now against St Mirren.

“After next week’s second leg they’ve got the Old Firm game, a first taste of it for Russell Martin.

“There’s nothing to be positive about for Rangers tonight – especially that first half.”