'Not end of world' or are Rangers 'million miles away'?

Rangers starting the Scottish Premiership season with a third consecutive 1-1 is "not the end of the world", claims head coach Russell Martin.

Observers of the club - never mind the irate Rangers fans who booed them off in Paisley after drawing with St Mirren - disagree violently.

This has been their worst start to a league campaign in 36 years. And Martin's run of three wins in nine games is the worst start of any permanent Ibrox manager.

"Rangers are a million miles away from where they need to be" fulminated the club's former striker Kris Boyd on Sky Sports.

"This is only going to intensify. Celtic are coming to Ibrox next weekend. And if Rangers don't get a good result on Wednesday, Ibrox is going to be toxic."

Wednesday is the Champions League play-off second leg with Club Brugge. Martin's side trail 3-1 after a mortifying first 20 minutes in Glasgow last Tuesday.

They have shown little to convince anyone that they are capable of turning the tie around, even if their European form has been better than their domestic efforts.

At this rate, returning from Belgium without their morale taking a further dent would perhaps be a good outcome.

Celtic have not been without their own problems in the early weeks of the season, but should they win at Ibrox next Sunday, they would be nine points clear of their putative title rivals after four games.

Add in Martin's post-match claim that forward Hamza Igamane claimed to be injured and declined to come on as a second-half substitute in Paisley, and Rangers reek of a club in crisis.

Rangers went to Paisley in desperate need of a first leg win of the season to alleviate some of the mounting pressure on Martin.

However, they fell behind on 32 minutes as Jonah Ayunga ran clear of centre-back pairing Emmanuel Fernandez and John Souttar and beat goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Teenage substitute Findlay Curtis fired in a second-half equaliser, but Rangers were unable to find a winner and were booed off again by the remaining away fans who stayed until the end.

Their next two matches could shape their season, as they travel to Belgium for the return against Brugge, before the first Old Firm derby of the season next Sunday.

Hearts and Hibernian visit Ibrox after that in the Premiership and Premier Sports Cup respectively.

"There are tough games for Rangers coming up," said Billy Dodds, part of the Ibrox coaching staff last season. "It's going to take a big collective effort to get it going, but there's an opportunity for them to do something."

But does Martin have the players capable of that? Boyd doesn't think so, pointing to the Igamane situation as being emblematic of the issues facing him.

The former Scotland striker was also bemused by post-match comments from summer signing Joe Rothwell, who admitted Rangers lost the battle in the first half, with St Mirren winning more 50-50 duels.

"That interview was damning," Boyd said. "That's your job, you're in that midfield to pick up second balls.

"The players have been running the club for far too long," he said. "He needs to get the right type of characters in this dressing room and quick.

"It's at boiling point with the fans now. And if Martin is not strong, he'll join Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, and Philippe Clement and be out the door."

Earlier in the week, Martin insisted he pays no attention to the external "noise" that accompanies poor results and he urged calm after the draw in Paisley.

He has spoken at length about the time required to turn Rangers around, but time is something rarely afforded to managers at Ibrox.

After the Igamane revelation, Martin says transfer "uncertainty" is affecting the mood among the squad.

"It's not the end of the world," he said when asked about the start to the season.

"We've been eight weeks and had so many games. The window needs to shut and everyone needs to be all in. Before that happens, I'm under no illusions.

"When you can feel some of the lads' energy is not all there, because they feel like their future is somewhere else, it's difficult."

On the below-par first-half display against St Mirren, Martin believes it is an attitude issue.

"We're making it hard for ourselves, conceding poor goals is so disappointing," he said. "We turn the ball over a lot without having conviction in our actions.

"When we have a difficult moment, the response is not good enough. We need to stick to the plan always. But I loved the intent in the second half."

'Big questions going to be asked and Martin must face them'

24/08/25

John: Absolute garbage from Martin. A man completely out of his depth with the demands of a Rangers manager. To say the next three games are not crucial shows how little he knows. Every game is crucial as a Rangers manager.

Keith: Is that a bad result? Perhaps not. Unbeaten in the league under a new manager with new faces. Most other clubs outside the top three would be happy with this start. Bit of perspective needed.

Mitchell: It's not the manager. The players aren't good enough.

Colin: Absolutely disgusting this is the worst team in my 55 years of watching Rangers. As for Igamane - get him on the first plane out of Glasgow and Russell Martin with him and the rest of the garbage he brought in.

David: Re: Martin. If you don't command the dressing room then it'll command you. If one is not wanting to play leave him at home for the next three games. Hang him out to dry if you have to, they play for the club not just a manager and the fans WILL turn. Martin has enough issues, and all this before even taking into account you'll be judged on how Celtic are doing!

Dougie: Rangers should have lost today. Too many of their players think they are better than they are. No urgency, too slow, no aggression. Also, any professional who refuses to play should be shown the door immediately.