The tension mounting among the home supporters could have been killed within a minute of the re-start when Rangers were awarded their first penalty of the night but Kris Boyd’s tentative kick, gobbled up by goalkeeper Nir Davidovich, was symptomatic of a Rangers side looking for their first home victory in four attempts.
Despite the fraughtness of the overall display there were several individual performances that caught the eye and gave hope for the future as Le Guen’s side look to continue their European odyssey and make inroads into Celtic’s lead at the top of the SPL table.
Jeremy Clement looked hungry and sharp in his first appearance for almost two months, the tireless Steven Smith propelled up and down the left flank all evening while Novo, aside from his goal, offered heart and endeavour along with a never-say-die attitude.
It was Barry Ferguson, however, who again looked the best player on the park with a performance full of desire and no little skill despite being hampered with a rib injury sustained in the first half.
It was his lung-bursting run deep into the Haifa penalty box towards the end of the regulation 90 minutes that earned Rangers a second penalty kick that eventually settled this contest.
With Livorno and Partizan Belgrade drawing 1-1 in the other group game, a point in Auxerre may be enough for Rangers to book their place in the last 32.
Le Guen had been forced into a defensive realignment with Sasa Papac ineligible for this tournament although few outside the manager’s inner sanctum would have expected Julien Rodriguez to become the victim of the reshuffle.
It meant Brahim Hemdani was asked to drop back to the defensive role he had performed so well against Molde in the home UEFA Cup tie to be partnered by Karl Svensson, allowing Clement to return and fill the space vacated by Hemdani for the first time since September.
Allan McGregor also returned in goal after Lionel Letizi appeared to injury himself during the warm-up.
Le Guen’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation was ditched too in favour of a more offensive 4-3-3 with Novo and Dado Prso patrolling the flanks to provide ammunition for lone striker Kris Boyd.
Within five minutes Le Guen’s boldness was rewarded when Rangers stormed in front, the goal another step in the continuing remarkable renaissance of Novo.
The Spaniard had not scored at Ibrox since netting a penalty in the 3-1 win over Celtic in August 2005 and had gradually drifted so far out of the first-team picture that, one year on from that Old Firm strike, he was almost sent to Coventry.
Just when it seemed his Rangers career was about to tamely fizzle out, he returned with a bang with goals away to Livorno and St Mirren, the first a speculative long-ranger and the other a tap-in from a matter of yards.
It was his strike here tonight though that gave the clearest indication yet that he may be approaching something like the devastating form that had brought him 25 goals two seasons ago.
Anticipating that Boyd would make contact with Alan Hutton’s long-range pass from defence, Novo was on to the ball in a flash to rifle a shot past Davidovich, a slight deflection giving the keeper no chance.
The goal seemed to settle Rangers but did little to discourage a Haifa side that had been sent out full of attacking intention.
At the heart of their make-up was the foreign trio of Brazilian playmaker Gustavo Boccoli, Congolese midfielder Alain Masudi and Argentine-turned-Israeli national Roberto Colautti who conspired to torment the Rangers defence all evening with some penetrative running and incisive one-touch passing.
Haifa, in fact, could have scored within 45 seconds – Masudi seemed to pull out of a headed chance – and continued to look dangerous throughout the half.
Their best chance came from a dead ball situation just outside the penalty box when Hemdani was harshly adjudged to have handled and was booked for the infringement.
Colautti, Alon Harazi and Yaniv Katan all stood over the ball but the latter’s shot was weak and squirmed off Clement’s shoulder for a corner.
Boccoli then shot wide before his teasing cross across the face of the goal was missed by the desperate lunges of both Colautti and then Masudi as Ibrox heaved a collective sigh of relief.
The early goal should have been the platform for Rangers to build on but instead they looked tentative and lacking in ideas, a Charlie Adam shot that drifted well wide their only real other chance in the opening period.
In stark contrast, Rangers started the second half in a surprisingly positive fashion and within 26 seconds had fashioned a penalty when Prso was brought down in the box.
Boyd, as he had done in Livorno two weeks previously, immediately sought out the ball but the conclusion of this mini-drama would have no happy ending for Rangers as Davidovich guessed correctly to swallow the striker’s weak penalty.
It was a real let-off for the Israelis and they had their keeper to thank again just 10 minutes later when he seemed to turn Ferguson’s fierce shot around the post.
Haifa’s resolve seemed to be weakening, exemplified by Boccoli’s loathsome behaviour when, from lying prone on the pitch seemingly requiring urgent treatment, he jumped to his feet to chase a long ball down the line.
It was a pathetic display and he was substituted shortly afterwards, trudging off the pitch like a truculent child.
McGregor had been rarely troubled on his return to the starting line-up but kept Rangers in the game with an instinctive parry to deny substitute Maor Melicsohn’s well-struck attempt after 75 minutes.
Rangers seemed to be happy to simply protect their slender lead although their bid to wind down the clock was not helped by the disruption caused when a protester ran onto the pitch and tried to chain himself to McGregor’s goal.
The tension was almost tangible around Ibrox when play re-started but another penalty, this time successfully converted, would settle the nerves once and for all.
Ferguson started the move from deep inside his own half with a pass that sent Thomas Buffel scampering in on goal.
The substitute held up play to allow Ferguson to steam past him and into the box where Dirceu Xavir whipped away his legs just as he had brilliantly reached Buffel’s return pass.
With Boyd off the pitch, Novo and Adam both quarrelled for the right to take the penalty with Adam getting the decision. His crisply struck kick gave Davidovich little chance and, finally, settled a turbulent tie in Rangers’ favour.
RANGERS (4-3-3): 22 McGregor; 20 Hutton, 19 Svensson, 7 Hemdani, 26 Smith; 8 Clement, 6 Ferguson, 25 Adam (Rae 89); 10 Novo, 15 Boyd (Sebo 66), 9 Prso (Buffel 66)
Subs not used: Letizi, Bardsley, Rodriguez, N’Diaye
Booked: Hemdani (15), Prso (56), Smith (90)
MACCABI HAIFA (4-2-2): 1 Davidovich; 3 Harazi (Meshumar 85), 19 Olarra, 21 Keinan, 18 Magrashvili; 7 Boccoli (Melicsohn 60), 15 Xavir, 5 Anderson, 10 Masudi (Arbeitman 81); 9 Colautti, 20 Katan
Subs not used: Madon, Swan, Gazal, Keise
Booked: Boccoli (50)