Europa Cup: Scottish Sides Fail Miserably in Night of Dismal Performances

Rubbish, that's all that can be said about the woeful performance by our so called best Scottish teams in European competition this season, after all three remaining sides were dumped from further participation after failing to register a single win.

After a dismal first leg showing in the Europa cup qualifying round last week by Rangers, Celtic and Hearts, hopes were perhaps higher for the second leg that at least one of the three sides would progress to the group stages proper. But it was to prove false hope as some dreadful performances by our top sides put paid to further European action in Scottish stadiums for the remainder of the season.

Not since 1955 have Scotland not had European football being played in the country after September 1st, but tonight perhaps concreted the view that Scottish football has hit a new low.

RANGERS

Scottish champions Rangers perhaps offered the largest glint of European light as they headed to Ibrox for the second leg after losing the first leg 2-1 in Maribor.

However despite a ton of pressure being placed upon the visitors defensive backline, it was to prove in vein as the Slovenian side took the lead on 55 minutes giving them a 3-1 aggregate lead with only 35 minutes for the Ibrox side to claw themselves back into the tie.

New American midfielder Bocanegra scored on his debut for his side which equalized the score on the night but Rangers could not add to the goal tally, leaving them to exit this competition after also being dumped from the Champions League less than three weeks ago.

CELTIC

Celtic went on their travels to Switzerland after drawing their home match 0-0 with FC Sion but once again they had no bite about them and slumped miserably 3-1 on the night which started with a catastrophic red card for Majstorovich in only the second minute which also resulted in a penalty for the home side.

The penalty was converted and edged the Swiss side in the ascendancy for the remainder of the game.

It took the home side a further 60 minutes before adding a second though which appeared to end the match but Charlie Mulgrew pulled one back for the Glasgow side, giving hope to his side that they could draw level and move into the draw for the group stages on away goals scored.

However it was Sion that were to hit the back of the net again on 82 minutes which eased them into the next round and dumped Celtic into the European wilderness.

HEARTS

Hearts match against Spurs was already done and dusted in the home tie last week at Tynecastle, after an embarrassing 5-0 defeat. So tonight's return leg at White Hart Lane was always going to be a exhibition match with nothing more than pride at stake for the Edinburgh side.

Spurs could have taken the lead through a penalty but it was superbly saved by the Hearts keeper and the 0-0 final scoreline on the night maybe restored a sense of pride for the Jam Tarts. But overall this season's European adventure will always be remembered for the 5-0 drubbing they endured at home in August.

It's unsure where Scottish club football can go from here as these teams are supposed to be the best that we have at our disposal, yet here they suffered and struggled very badly to make any impact on some very mediocre European sides (Spurs apart).

The inquest into the shortcomings of these sides will begin in earnest in the early additions of the printed press, where the managers of the Old Firm sides in particular will be under scrutiny for failing to bring further European football this season to the city.

Marc Roseblade is a Contributor for Bleacher Report as well as Not Just Scottish Football and youth development reporter for Ayr United Football Academy. All quotes are obtained first-hand unless otherwise stated.

Scottish Clubs Humiliated in European Night of Woe(highlights)