Rangers’ struggles continue as they draw 1-1 with St. Mirren, marking their third consecutive league draw. The pressure mounts on manager Russell Martin, whose team conceded first and needed a deflected goal to equalize. A late save prevented a St. Mirren winner. Martin’s historically poor start to his Rangers tenure is highlighted, with the upcoming match against Celtic potentially decisive for his future.
Russell Martin's search for his first Scottish Premiership victory as Rangers manager continues after his team was held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by St. Mirren on Sunday. This result marks the third consecutive 1-1 draw for the Gers, further amplifying the pressure on the relatively new boss.
The opening weeks of the domestic season have been far from ideal for Martin. Prior to the St. Mirren match, Rangers had already played out 1-1 draws against Motherwell and Dundee. Adding to the woes, a 3-1 defeat at Ibrox against Club Brugge in the Champions League qualifier has significantly jeopardized their chances of reaching the group stage – a crucial objective for the club.
The match at the SMISA Stadium offered little respite for Martin. St. Mirren took the lead in the 32nd minute when Jonah Ayunga capitalized on a well-weighted through-ball from Mikael Mandron, leaving the Rangers defense exposed. The home side's goal sent shockwaves through the Rangers support and raised further questions about the team's defensive solidity.
Rangers struggled to mount a response in the first half, with only a superb save from St. Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George denying Thelo Aasgaard an equalizer. The frustration among the Rangers faithful was palpable, as the team was booed off the pitch at half-time by their travelling fans, who were clearly unimpressed with the performance.
In an attempt to shake things up, Martin made a tactical switch at the start of the second half, opting for a three-man backline. However, the change failed to immediately ignite a turnaround. Rangers continued to struggle to create clear-cut chances, failing to register a single shot on target in the first fifteen minutes after the restart. The lack of attacking impetus was a major concern for Martin and his coaching staff.
A moment of fortune eventually arrived for Rangers in the 78th minute when Findlay Curtis' low drive from the edge of the area took a significant deflection, wrong-footing George and finding the back of the net. The equalizer offered a glimmer of hope for Rangers, but they failed to build on the momentum.
Despite getting back on level terms, Rangers were unable to seize control of the game. St. Mirren almost snatched a late winner in the 93rd minute when Jack Butland produced a crucial save to turn an Alex Gogic header away from the top corner. The save ensured that Rangers avoided defeat, but it did little to ease the growing pressure on Martin.
The final whistle was met with jeers from the Rangers supporters, highlighting the increasing discontent with the team's performances under Martin's leadership. With Celtic up next in the league, Martin faces a potentially decisive week just two months into his reign. The upcoming Old Firm derby could have a significant impact on his future at the club.
Data Debrief: Martin’s historically poor start
Martin’s start to his Rangers career has been statistically poor, ranking among the worst of any permanent manager in the club’s history. He is the first Rangers boss to win only three of his first nine games in all competitions (with four draws and two defeats). These wins came at home against Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen in Champions League qualifying, and against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup.
Martin is also only the second Rangers manager to fail to win his first three league games, following John Greig in 1978. While Greig went on to manage the club for five years, winning two Scottish Cups and two League Cups, Martin’s position already appears to be under scrutiny. The pressure is mounting, and he needs to find a way to turn things around quickly to avoid becoming the next managerial casualty at Ibrox.