Rangers Archives - Page 10 of 16

Russell Martin on what he finds ‘sad’ about the hostile backlash he receives

Russell Martin addresses the intense backlash he’s received from the Rangers faithful and has been told that some of it has gone too far. The under-fire Ibrox boss was subjected to furious chants for his sacking – seconds after Max Aarons scored in stoppage to get the Light Blues’ first league win of the season. Martin’s men have travelled to Austria to face Sturm Graz in their second Europa League game, as they look to try and make it two wins on the bounce. In his pre match press conference before the clash, the 39-year-old spoke about what he finds ‘sad’ regarding the brutal criticism he’s endured: “I walked straight down the tunnel on Sunday because I wanted the players to enjoy it. “They deserved to enjoy it because they played really well in the first half especially. “There is a narrative that it was late and Livingston were unlucky. But we deserved to win the game. “So I wanted the players to enjoy it – then people can choose to turn their attention to me. “I just wish at that point they could enjoy their team winning rather than that energy coming towards me. “The only thing I find sad is when I see kids standing next to their dads and sticking their fingers up at me or swearing at me. “I don’t feel particularly sad about that for me. I feel it’s more about that cycle going on. “Look, I’m here and we’ve made mistakes. “There’s been some tough moments, but we’re giving everything we’ve got to improve the club. As is Kevin (Thelwell), Patrick (Stewart) and the owners. “When you have so much change – and it’s not an excuse – but I think it’s pretty evident it might take some time. “So the criticism aimed at me is fine. I’ve actually had a lot of fans come up to me in the city telling me to ignore it. “They feel it’s gone quite some way over the normal criticism. “I’ve really appreciated that. I think they just want to see their team win. So we have to win games of football. “Inside the building, the players and staff have been amazing. They’re so together. “You saw that in the celebrations on Sunday with the doctor, the physios, the subs, the players who hadn’t even played. “Nedim Bajrami jumped into the crowd and he only played 10 minutes. So I enjoyed that.”

October 2, 2025

Former Rangers star believes it must be ‘horrible’ what Russell Martin is going through

Russell Martin was beyond relived his side got their first league victory of the season as they defeated Livingston 2-1 thanks to a Max Aarons winner in stoppage time. The Rangers faithful were still calling for Martin to be sacked even during the celebrations after the last minute winner. It’s been well documented that the 39-year-old was never the popular choice and the win against David Martindale’s men appears to have not changed the opinions of the supporters regarding the Englishman. Martin was asked after the game if Aarons’ goal kept him in a job and he said: “I can’t answer that question because it’s not relevant. He scored and I’m in a job.” It’s been a dismal start for Martin in Glasgow only managing to rack up five wins in 15 games and the unrest amongst the fans continues to get worse. Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson sympathises with the Ibrox boss but doesn’t believe the result against Livi will change anything. He said to BBC Scotland: “I’ll be honest. I’ve not spoken to any Rangers fan that is in favour of Russell Martin. “It’s not nice. It must be horrible for Russell Martin and his family, anyone connected to him. It’s not nice to see anybody go through that. “But the feelings of the Rangers fans towards the manager, I don’t think a victory against Livingston is going to change anything.”

September 30, 2025

‘You can’t beat it!’ – Ally McCoist ecstatic after Rangers’ last minute winner

Rangers got their first league victory of the season thanks to Max Aarons’ last gap goal in stoppage time against Livingston. It was an all important and well needed win for Russell Martin but seconds after the right-back bailed the under-fire Ibrox boss out the Rangers faithful were still chanting for his dismissal. However, footballing icon Ally McCoist watched the game from a pub in London and was over the moon at full-time as the Light Blues picked up the three points. McCoist revealed that the venue was showing the Newcastle vs Arsenal game where Mikel Arteta’s side also bagged a last minute winner and the celebrations were electric: “I sampled it myself at the weekend. “Obviously I went to watch the football, had Viv [wife] down, did the family things on Sunday and went to the pub and watched the football. “I’m sitting there, it was brilliant. “There must’ve been about eight TVs, seven of them showing Newcastle vs Arsenal, and one had Livingston vs Rangers. “And we got a 94th minute winner! “Everybody – and I mean everybody – in the pub was watching Newcastle vs Arsenal and don’t get me wrong I had one eye on it. “Next minute, the guy next to me, I’ve jumped up and screamed at the top of my voice and the guy next to me just about jumped out of his skin because he was watching the Arsenal game. “But that’s what a last minute winner does to me and does to every football fan, you can’t beat it.” Next up for Russell Martin’s men is SK Strum Graz in the Europa League then back to Scottish Premiership action against Falkirk.

September 30, 2025

Late Aarons Goal Secures First League Victory for Rangers

Livingston 1-2 Rangers Sylla (68′) Tavernier (23′) Aarons (90+4′) Russell Martin’s Rangers left it late at The Set Fare Arena to win their first league game of the Scottish Premiership season. Livingston looked dangerous in the opening exchanges, but Jack Butland blocked Stevie May’s right-footed shot and saved Lewis Smith’s curling strike as the home side searched for the opener. After the early pressure, Russell Martin’s side established better control of the game. Bojan Miovski collected a delicate Nicolas Raskin touch, but the Macedonian striker blazed his strike into the visiting support. Rangers took the lead after 23 minutes. Djeidi Gassama’s deep cross was kept alive by Oliver Antman at the back post for captain James Tavernier to volley home. Tavernier had a chance to double the lead from the penalty spot moments later, but Jerome Prior was up to the challenge, saving low to his right. Connor Barron looked an assured presence in the heart of the Rangers midfield, and almost added a third with a low drive. Prior pulled a terrific low save to keep the score at one. Prior continued to keep Livingston alive, this time diverting a Miovski volley onto the crossbar after Tavernier’s corner on 41 minutes. Derek Cornelius thought he had doubled Rangers on the stroke of halftime after bundling home Tavernier’s free kick. VAR rightly disallowed the goal as the Canadian defender had controlled the ball with his right arm, and was offside. Despite some early scares and a slender advantage, Rangers had produced an improved performance in the first half. Davie Martindale’s last home victory over Rangers came in 2018, and his side started the second period with endeavour. May raced clear of the defence and collided with Souttar in the box, but referee John Beaton quickly waved off the home side’s penalty shout. May was involved again after 63 minutes, collecting Adam Montgomery’s backheel, and firing a fierce strike at Butland in goal. They equalised after 68 minutes, Mo Sylla powered home an inswinging cross, which was thoroughly deserved for Martindale’s boys. Livingston continued to probe on the counterattack but didn’t threaten Butland’s goal any further. Rangers won the game in the 94th minute. Tavernier’s cross dropped to substitute Max Aarons, who drilled a low shot into the corner. The goal sent Russell Martin and the large contingent of travelling fans into a frenzy. Rangers return to Europa League action in Austria against Sturm Graz on Thursday evening, and Livingston travel to Tannadice to face Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United. Livingston: Prior 7 Findlayson 6 Wilson 6 Montgomery 6 Pittman 6 Tait 6 Sylla 6 Susoho 6 Winter 6 May 6 Substitutes: McLennan 5 Blaney 6 Bokoli 5 Carey Yengi Rangers: Butland 6 Tavernier 6 Cornelius 6 Souttar 6 Meghoma 6 Barron 7 Raskin 7 Aasgaard 5 Antman 5 Gassama 7 Miovski 6 Substitutes: Chermiti 6 Aarons 6 Rothwell 6 Bajrami Moore

September 28, 2025

Ally McCoist believes Russell Martin is in ‘big trouble’ as the pressure continues to mount

It wasn’t the start Rangers were hoping for to their Europa League campaign as they suffered a 1-0 loss at home to Genk, as the pressure intensifies on under-fire boss Russell Martin. The Light Blues have only managed to win four of their last 14 games, and last night 38,000 were in attendance, which was the lowest turnout for a European game at Ibrox since returning to the Scottish Premiership nine years ago. The Rangers faithful made their feelings clear to Martin with a chorus of boos at fulltime and chants for him to ‘get to f***’. Time is certainly running out for the 39-year-old, and Ally McCoist believes that is the case. Speaking on TNT Sports, the footballing legend said he can’t see things improving anytime soon, whilst Martin is still in the role as head coach: “It clearly hasn’t been good enough, and it isn’t good enough, and tonight was another disappointment. “You can point to the red card, the deserved red card, but it goes deeper than that. The level of performances haven’t been good enough. “I just felt coming into the stadium tonight, you could’ve blown me away, it was nothing like a normal atmosphere of any game, never mind a European game here at Ibrox. “There was an apathy, I don’t know. There was just no life about the place, you know, actually on or off the pitch, which is really, really concerning. “The manager is in trouble, the manager is in big trouble because something has to change, and something has to change dramatically, and on the current evidence. Sadly, I can’t see it happening.”

September 26, 2025

Ex Celtic Striker Seals Defeat for Rangers in Europa League Opener

Rangers 0-1 Genk Oh Hyeon-Gyu (55′) Rangers slipped to a narrow defeat against Genk in the Europa League, as their difficult season opening continued. The home side was reduced to 10 men after Mohamed Diomande lunged at Zakaria El Ouahdi on the stroke of halftime. Beforehand, John Souttar had gone close to opening the scoring, but his header was expertly cleared off the line thanks to a Bryan Heynen overhead kick. Genk had a golden chance to open the scoring after James Tavernier caught Yaimar Medina in the box, but Jack Butland was on hand to save Oh’s resultant penalty, keeping the scores level. The South Korean striker gave Genk the lead ten minutes into the second half, racing clear of the Rangers backline and drilling a low strike across Butland. Rangers were unable to find the equaliser. Heynen’s brilliant late save from Connor Barron’s strike was the closest they came. Rangers return to Premiership action against Livingston on Sunday afternoon, before a trip to Austria to face Sturm Graz in Europa League Matchday 2. Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma Raskin, Diomande, Aasgaard, Moore, Chermiti, Gassama Genk: Van Crombrugge, Medina, Kayembe, Sadick, Smets, El Ouahdi, Bangoura, Heynen, Hrosovsky, Steuckers, Oh

September 25, 2025

‘I’ve actually, in a perverse way, enjoyed that’ – Russell Martin reveals he thrives on the backlash

It’s safe to say Russell Martin has had a tough start to life at Rangers with many of the Ibrox faithful demanding for his sacking but the under fire boss claims he enjoys the hostility towards him. The Light Blues won their first game in over a month at the weekend defeating Hibernian 2-0 at Ibrox to progress to the Premier Sports Cup semi-final where they’ll have a showdown with Celtic. There were protests before the game outside the stadium against Martin and chief executive Patrick Stewart as the Rangers fans made their feelings known loud and clear. The Gers have won four games out of 13 and currently sit 11th in the Scottish Premiership table only managing to rack up a total of four points from five games. Martin’s side kickstart their Europa League campaign tonight as they take on Genk, another club who aren’t in a great place as they currently sit third bottom in the Belgian Pro League. Despite the furious backlash against Martin, the 39-year-old said he finds enjoyment in it and believes himself and the players could learn from this tough period: “Being a head coach or manager of any team or club is not easy. There’s obviously so many opinions because of the level of interest in this game and how much it means to people. “I’ve actually, in a perverse way, enjoyed that as well. I think you have to try and find enjoyment in everything. “I’ve said to the players, I’ve said to the staff and it counts for us as well as individuals, the amount of growth that can come from this, in this difficult period in learning, could be huge, could be brilliant for everyone, myself included. “We just have to keep working, do what we believe in and trust that the outcome will be positive.”

September 25, 2025

Unrest In Glasgow Opens The Door For The Chasing Pack

Last weekend saw unrest amongst fans from both sides of Glasgow as Celtic and Rangers as protests were seen against Celtic’s hierarchy and Russell Martin and Patrick Stewart’s future at Ibrox. SNN Sports looks at which teams could capitalise on the Glasgow sides woes off the park. With Rangers making the worst start to a season since 1989 with 0 wins, 4 draws and a singular defeat there is discontent amongst the Rangers faithful. Coupled with a 6-0 hammering over in Belgium at the hands of Club Brugge time seems to be running out for the man in the Ibrox hot seat. Patrick Stewart who presided over the appointment of Martin has also come under heavy fire from the Rangers fans calling for him to follow Martin out the door should he be sacked. The Rangers fans protested outside Ibrox ahead of their 2-0 victory over Hibernian in the Premier Sports Cup calling for Russell Martin and Patrick Stewart to leave. The game was also halted in the 11th minute as the Union Bears proceeded to throw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest at the clubs fortunes. On the other side of Glasgow a week on from a protest in which Celtic fans entered Rugby Park in the 12th minute the fans made their voices heard yet again as they called for the board to resign. Despite continued success on the park for nearly 20 years a summer transfer window which left a lot to be desired has been the final straw for a lot of the Celtic support Alongside an embarrassing Champions League exit at the hands of Kairat Almaty. The Celtic fans held aloft banners of members of the Celtic hierarchy including Peter Lowell and Michael Nicholson with their faces covered with a red cross indicating they should be removed from the Celtic boardroom as serious unrest grows within the Celtic support about the penny pinching tactics seen in the transfer market which has arguably left them weaker than when they went into the window. With both sides of Glasgow having issues of the park as well as on the park with Rangers struggling to capture any sort of form and Celtic performances looking slow and laboured SNN takes a look at which teams could benefit from the struggles of their Premiership counterparts Hearts- Fresh from the investment of Tony Bloom and the appointment of seasoned manager Derek McInnes the Tynecastle side look to be in the driving seat to upset the Glasgow two. Hearts have started the league campaign superbly as they sit unbeaten after 5 games and a singular goal separates themselves and Celtic. Fresh of the back of a 2-0 victory at Ibrox confidence is flowing within the Hearts team with new additions Claudio Braga, Stuart Findlay and Alexandros Kiziridis looking the part and the return to form of talisman Lawrence Shankland. With no European football on the agenda this season they will be fresh legged and suitably prepared to challenge the dominance that Glasgow has had over Scottish football for so long. Whilst still early on in the season Hearts look great going forward and defensively they are improving this could be the year they upset the applecart. St Mirren/Motherwell- A double barrel selection here in St Mirren and Motherwell this is more looking at the first trophy on offer in the Premier Sports Cup. St Mirren and Motherwell will battle it out for a place in the final alongside Celtic or Rangers. With the issues at both clubs clearly impacting matters on the park there has never been a better opportunity for a club outside the top two to win a domestic trophy. Motherwell have already shown they are more than a match for Rangers on the opening day whilst the Buddies have put in two very good displays against both sides this season with deflected efforts being their undoing. Both sides have made good starts to the season with good football on display and both sides carrying an attacking threat whilst also looking relatively comfortable defensively. Whichever of these teams progresses has a massive opportunity to lift silverware and take away the chance of a treble early on in the season Hibernian- It would be unwise to count out last seasons 3rd place side in David Gray’s Hibernian. Whilst they have made a slow start to the season perhaps impacted by European exploits there is no denying the quality the Leith side have. Kieron Bowie looks to have come into his own on his return from injury alongside new additions Josh Mulligan and Jamie McGrath.Whilst Hibs stalwart Martin Boyle continues to impress and light up the Easter Road pitch. The only worry for Hibs is they look very shaky defensively and have shipped a lot of goals so far this season. However they made a slow start last season and ended up going on a mazy unbeaten run to secure 3rd spot. It does look like it will be one of the Edinburgh sides challenging the Glasgow dominance. It remains to be seen whether the off-field issues are sorted but with the unrest and division amongst the supporters and the clubs this season is the perfect season for a club to come in and stop the dominance which has plauged Scottish football for so long. With so long left in the season there will be plenty of twists and turns but could the Glasgow sides grip on the game be untightened?

September 24, 2025

Returning Raskin Stars for Rangers in Welcome League Cup Victory over Hibs

Rangers 2-0 Hibernian Raskin (42′) Miovski (45+2′) Two late first-half goals saw Rangers progress to the League Cup semi-finals over David Gray’s Hibernian. The home side started positively in front of a sparse Ibrox crowd. Nicolas Raskin returned to the Rangers side following a brief absence and dragged the first shot of the match wide after 5 minutes. Following a pre-match protest outside Ibrox, a section of the home faithful continued their revolt in the 11th minute, throwing objects onto the park to disrupt proceedings. Hibs grew into the game and had the first major chance on the 15-minute mark. Josh Mulligan drove at the Rangers’ backline before sliding Kieron Bowie through on goal. The striker rounded Jack Butland at an angle, opting to lay off for Martin Boyle, who sidefooted over. Boyle had the ball in the net on 19 minutes, rolling past Butland from Dylan Levitt’s pass. VAR correctly disallowed the opener, as the Australian attacker had controlled the pass with his hand. Nicky Cadden crashed a free kick into the wall after the half-hour mark as the game remained goalless. Rangers had shown positive signs but still lacked a cutting edge in attack. That changed after 41 minutes, courtesy of Raskin. The Belgian international headed home James Tavernier’s corner kick to the delight of the home support. Boyle had a golden chance to equalise moments later, but steered a trademark Cadden cross wide. Bojan Miovski doubled the lead in stoppage time. The ball broke to the Macedonian after positive play by Mikey Moore, slotting home for his first Rangers goal. Martin’s side started the second half exactly how they ended the first, as Djeidi Gassama curled a powerful strike off the crossbar. Grant Hanley cleared Miovski’s shot off the line soon after, as Rangers searched for the goal that would finalise the tie. Despite the lead, Rangers looked fragile defensively. Kieron Bowie easily found room in the penalty box from a long ball, but bobbled his shot wide. Miovski thought he had scored his second goal and Rangers’ third, but was flagged offside in the Hibs box. David Gray turned to his bench in an attempt to overturn the deficit. Substitute Thibault Klidje found Bowie in the box, but Dean Cornelius blocked the striker’s left-footed shot. Raskin was a standout for Rangers, adding personality and swagger to the home side’s midfield. He exited the field to a standing ovation after a starring performance. Youssef Chermiti raced clear in the 88th minute as Hibs pushed men forward. The striker’s shot was blocked by the foot of Raphael Salliinger. The full-time whistle secured Rangers’ first win in five, the win will ease some of the magnified pressure on Martin’s shoulders. They return to Ibrox on Thursday, opening their Europa League campaign against Genk. David Gray will be disappointed that his side couldn’t convert any of their major chances. They will have the opportunity to rectify this defeat at Falkirk Stadium on Tuesday night Rangers: Butland 6 Tavernier 7 Souttar 6 Cornelius 6 Meghoma 6 Raskin 7 Diomande 6 Aasgaard 6 Moore 7 Miovski 7 Gassama 6 Substitutes: Barron 6 Antman 5 Chermiti 5 Curtis Bajrami Hibernian:Sallinger 6 Hanley 7 Bushiri 6 Obita 6 Mulligan 6 Levitt 6 Chaiwa 6 N Cadden 6 McGrath 6 Boyle 6 Bowie 6 Substitutes: Barlaser 6 Hoilett 6 Klidje 5 C Cadden 5 Molotnikov 5

September 20, 2025

SNN’s Scottish League Cup Quarter Final Preview

Kilmarnock v St Mirren The two sides open proceedings under the lights at BBSP Rugby Park. Killie arrive following a heartbreaking 2-1 league defeat against Champions Celtic, courtesy of a 96th-minute Kelechi Iheanacho penalty. After safely negotiating Group H, they bested Premiership rivals Dundee United in the 2nd Round. Brad Lyons was the hero, thanks to a 69th-minute volley. St Mirren registered their first league victory away at Falkirk last Saturday, currently sitting 4th in the Scottish Premiership. Despite losing their opening group match against Arbroath on penalties, they recovered to top Group D. Narrow victories over Forfar and Ayr, as well as a marauding 8-2 victory over Annan, secured passage. Shamal George was the hero in the 2nd round, saving Claudio Braga’s penalty to progress at the expense of Hearts. Stephen Robinson will have full focus on securing the Buddies’ first trip to Hampden for 5 seasons. Aberdeen v Motherwell Motherwell visit Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon, having drawn their opening five games in the Scottish Premiership. Jens Berthel Askou’s side have impressed with their free-flowing football, summer signings Elliot Watt, Elijah Just, and Lukas Fadinger invigorate the Fir Park midfield. Watt and Fadinger combined in the last round, the latter netted in the 109th minute to fire Askou’s boys into the quarters against relegated St Johnstone. 4 wins out of 4 in Group G. They aim for back-to-back League Cup semi-final appearances, after facing Rangers at Hampden 10 months ago. They face an Aberdeen side who currently sit at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. With three defeats, one draw, and zero goals scored, the cup game may present a welcome distraction for the Aberdeen faithful. After a 16-game unbeaten start last season, they were beaten 6-0 by Celtic in the League Cup semis. However, this was Thelin’s only domestic cup defeat after securing a famous Scottish Cup victory in May, Aberdeen’s first since 1990. They defeated Morton at Cappielow in the last round, a comfortable 3-0 victory. Rangers v Hibernian Russell Martin remains under serious pressure as Hibernian visit Ibrox on Saturday evening. Their only win in eight games came in the previous League Cup round, a 4-2 victory over 3rd tier Alloa Athletic. A Lawrence Shankland double last Saturday means Martin has failed to win any of his first five league games. The first Rangers manager since John Greig in 1978. He will look to lead Rangers to a second League Cup title in three years, after Philippe Clement’s side beat Aberdeen to the trophy in 2023. They meet David Gray’s Hibernian, who are unbeaten in their previous 3 games against Rangers. Their last trip to Ibrox ended in a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from Dylan Levitt and Martin Boyle. The Leith side have lost just 2 of 26 league matches after a turbulent start left them bottom in November. They beat Livingston 2-0 in the 2nd round. Goals from summer signings Thibault Klidje and Josh Mulligan secured the quarter-final showdown. Partick Thistle v Celtic Sunday afternoon sees the League Cup champions visit Partick Thistle. The Firhill side is the only non-Premiership team remaining in the competition. Goals from Dan O’Reilly and Tony Watt saw The Jags defeat Ayr United in the previous round, after 4 wins and 11 goals scored in Group B. Manager Mark Wilson spent 6 years at Celtic, making 98 appearances for the Glasgow giants. They have recovered well from an opening day drubbing at McDiarmid Park, currently sitting 3rd in the Scottish Championship. Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic are perched at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and defeated Premiership newbies Falkirk 4-1 in the last round. Despite their league position, unrest remains amongst the Celtic fanbase following a subdued transfer window and a Champions League qualifying exit. They have dominated the League Cup in recent years, winning 7 of the last 9 finals, including a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Rangers last December.

September 19, 2025

Rangers