Rangers finally get a league win after leaving it late in Livi, but fans still want Martin out.
Rangers finally recorded their first Premiership win of the season at the SIXTH time of asking with an injury-time winner at Livingston. Max Aarons’ late strike was enough to secure a 2-1 victory, lifting Rangers to 8th in the league table and sparing the blushes in what was another shaky performance in a season full of them. Although the win was most welcome, the fans made it clear where they stood regarding the manager, as chants could be heard sporadically through the afternoon of calls for Russell Martin to be removed from his position, with the loudest and most audible coming instantly after the winning goal.
The under-pressure manager made three changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Genk on Thursday. The back five remained the same, as did two of the midfield three, with Mo Diomande dropping to the bench for Connor Barron. Youssef Chermiti and Mikey Moore both made way for Oliver Antman and Bojan Miovski, as Djeidi Gassama completed the attack.
Rangers started sluggishly, as they have done so often this campaign, but did spark into life in the 11th minute when Miovski almost opened the scoring. A clever flick from Nico Raskin put the Macedonian through on goal, but his poor finish saw the ball sail over the bar.
The opening goal did come in the 22nd minute, though, and it was the visitors who got it. Gassama’s deep cross into the box was excellently played back into the danger area by Antman, where James Tavernier was waiting to acrobatically fire the ball beyond Jerome Prior in the Livingston goal.
Just two minutes after the opener, Rangers were given a glorious chance to double their advantage. Stevie May brought down Raskin following a Tavernier corner, and after a VAR check, John Beaton pointed to the spot. The captain stepped up to take the spot kick but went straight down to the middle of the goal and cannoned off Prior’s legs.
With the end of the first period approaching, Rangers had the ball again thanks to Derek Cornelius, but after an on-field review, it was correctly ruled out, and the half-time whistle went with Rangers a goal to the good, though they really should have been out of sight.
The second half began in an all too familiar fashion for the travelling support. The team looked lethargic and struggled to create anything of note. Passing became slack, and goalmouth opportunities were kept to a minimum. The longer that went on, the more David Martindale’s side became a bit more adventurous and started pushing for an equaliser.
They almost evened up the scoring when May got a strike at goal, but Jack Butland saved well as he steered it clear for a corner. The hosts continued knocking on the door, and there seemed an inevitability about the equaliser as it came in the 68th minute. An unmarked Mo Sylla met a good cross into the box, and he bulleted a header beyond Butland to make it 1-1, and anger began to spill out from the away support towards the manager once more.
The Rangers manager then made some changes in a desperate attempt to claim maximum points. Cornelius made way for Max Aarons, and the Bournemouth loanee went on at right back, as Tavernier moved into centre half. Nedim Bajrami, Joe Rothwell, Moore, and Chermiti were all introduced as the half wore on, and Rangers changed to a 3-5-2 formation in search of the winner.
They came close through Gassama, whose good work was rounded off with him hitting the side netting. And in the 83rd minute, Moore got a shot on target that was easily held by Prior. The next big chance came from Miovski as he headed Rothwell’s cross towards goal, which the goalkeeper tipped over.
With time running out, Rangers finally scrambled home the winner in the fourth minute of the eight added on after regulation 90. Another Tavernier corner was launched into the box, Raskin got a head to it, and the ball found its way to Aarons as the substitute finished well from 10 yards out to secure the three points. There was relief in the away section as the whistle blew for full-time, but the feeling of apathy and anger still lingered as the support collectively still feels the manager won’t be a long-term success at the club.
The win was needed, as for a Rangers team to go into their sixth league game of the season still winless is a disgraceful statistic. And as fans still vented their frustrations towards the beleaguered manager, he made his way straight down the tunnel at full-time. The loud chanting for him to go right after the winning goal was scored highlights just where the support is with this manager and his staff, and how much of a miracle is required for him to turn this around.
Attention now turns to Thursday night as Rangers face Sturm Graz in matchday 2 of the Europa League. And after failing to take anything from last week’s home clash with Genk, the need to get something in Austria cannot be understated. Another victory is, of course, what everyone wants, but belief in the current manager to deliver such a result is almost non-existent.