Auxerre denied by Boyd strike

Boyd leveller
Auxerre had been beaten by Maccabi Haifa FC in their first match but looked on course to claim a valuable win when substitute Daniel Niculae put them 2-1 ahead with his first touch 15 minutes from time. Rangers, though, have saved some of their best football this term for the UEFA Cup, and ultimately earned a point thanks to Boyd's 84th-minute leveller.

Le Guen return
Returning to France for the first time as Rangers manager, Paul Le Guen saw his side begin well. Barry Ferguson's defence-splitting pass set up the first clear opening on 17 minutes but Novo's drive was saved by Fabien Cool. Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor was forced into a superb double stop on 26 minutes, denying Ireneusz Jeleń then Benoît Pedretti as the hosts found their rhythm. Auxerre took a deserved lead on 31 minutes, Jeleń expertly controlling Younes Kaboul's long ball and dispatching a low shot past McGregor.

Novo strike
Rangers came out with renewed vigour after the interval and almost equalised immediately when Novo found himself unmarked at the far post only to be frustrated by Cool from point-blank range. The Ligue 1 team were guilty of sitting back and were punished when Rangers struck on 62 minutes, Novo racing on to Dado Pršo's short pass and rifling past Cool to maintain his record of scoring in every group match.

Rousing finish
Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez sent on Niculae and was rewarded within seconds as the Romanian forward headed in Jeleń's right-wing cross, but in a rousing finish, Rangers hit back again as Boyd profited from hesitancy in the Auxerre defence to steer home from close range.