Larne expect 'best version of Glentoran'
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Daily Record
19 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Rangers battered as the boo sea of Ibrox empties on Russell Martin and his Brugge flops
Punters seriously questioning whether Martin really is the man to take their club forward Russell Martin's mum might have to check on her boy again. Last week, he called to reassure her that he was OK in the Rangers manager's job. That might not be the case now. In fact, at one stage here it looked like the Ibrox gaffer might have to get The Samaritans on the phone. Because this chastening Champions League experience against Club Brugge was anything but OK. Certainly, the first 45 minutes was a million miles away from the kind of European performance Rangers fans have come to expect. And it left punters seriously questioning whether Martin really is the man to take their club forward. His team were 3-0 down to the Belgian champs after just 20 MINUTES - when calamitous defending led to goals from Romeo Vermant, Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele. Danilo pulled one back shortly after half-time for Rangers but the damage had already been done. For Brugge's first, it was a shocking mix-up between Jack Butland and his centre-back Nasser Djiga. And that set the tone for Rangers early on. Spileers was free at a corner to make it two, before Mechele pounced on a poor clearance to rifle home a third. Danilo's strike offered a glimmer of hope, as did a VAR-disallowed Djeidi Gassama goal, but Gers couldn't mount a comeback. The display from Martin's side led to vitriol in the stands as they were booed off at the end. And despite a better showing after the break their Champions League hopes are now hanging by a threat. Here's 5 talking points from Ibrox. Can't hide faults A flurry of urgency and enthusiasm in the second half here won't mask how poor Rangers were in the first. Nor will it dampen the criticism on Martin and his players. Their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League group phase look all but dead after a disastrous first-leg defeat. But a Europa League berth might be a blessing in the long-term because this Rangers team simply aren't ready for Europe's top competition. We all know Martin's side is a work in progress. And early on here, Brugge were a level above as they ripped them apart. Martin is under pressure anyway, that comes with the job. And a defeat in this play-off tie won't necessarily pile on more. However, if his team don't up their game at St Mirren on Sunday then in the Old Firm against Celtic a week later - the flak will fly. Fans weren't in favour of his appointment and so far they're unconvinced with his style of play. In the first 45 here, supporters were apoplectic with rage after going 3-0 down. Djeidi Gassama's superb performance offered a bit of hope going forward. But the next 11 days are huge for the under-fire Rangers boss. Tough start It was always going to be a baptism of fire for Rangers new boy Jayden Meghoma when Martin decided to throw him in at the Champions League deep end. But the Brentford kid couldn't have envisaged how his Euro bow would pan out. Meghoma's first few touches were good and - going forward - he looked confident. He even grabbed an assist for Danilo with a terrific cross as Gers threatened an unlikely comeback. But when Brugge were running all over Rangers in the first-half, the left-back endured a torrid time going the other way. Winger Carlos Forbs fancied his chances of getting in behind Meghoma at every opportunity. In the Rangers man's defence, he wasn't exactly helped out by team-mates around him. You had to feel for Meghoma. Before tonight, the biggest game of his career would have been a Carabao Cup tie for Southampton or a Championship game on loan at Preston. The youngster certainly didn't disgrace himself on his debut - even if his Ibrox career got off to the worst possible start. Dodgy stuff The style of football you want to play is irrelevant if you can't defend properly. And right now under Martin, Rangers are an absolute shambles at the back. There was comic book stuff against Alloa in the Premier Sports Cup at the weekend when they conceded two goals. This was a step up in class against Brugge but defensively, Gers were just as poor. All three of Brugge's goals in the first 20 minutes were preventable. It was a defensive horror show, initiated by the mix-up between Djiga and Butland for the visitors' first. Neither player took responsibility and it proved costly. For the second, Spileers had the freedom of Ibrox from a corner as Rangers were static in their zonal marking. And when Mechele made it 3-0 with a stunning finish - it came after a poor Joe Rothwell clearance and Danilo getting caught sleeping. A catalogue of defensive mistakes sealed Rangers' fate in the tie before half-time. Bomb squad James Tavernier has been bombed out of the Rangers side a few times now. But not for a game as big as this. And you have to wonder if it's a sign of Martin gradually phasing the skipper out of a new-look team. With young left-back Meghoma just in the door at Ibrox - and Jefte on the way out - most fans expected Tavernier to start in his usual berth, with Max Aarons shifting to the left. But with Meghoma thrown in for a debut and Aarons one of Martin's key signings, there was no place for the captain on a huge European night. A penny for Tavernier's thoughts as he watched Martin's men go three-down after 20 minutes. He's been an incredible servant to Rangers for a decade and only a fool would write off the 33-year-old just yet. But if Martin thinks he's the man to steer the club into a bright new era - Tavernier's omission on a Champions League night might be the clearest sign yet of his plans for the future. In-form Brugge If there's a shred of consolation for Rangers it's that they lost to a very good, polished European outfit. Club Brugge didn't have to play at their best here - largely due to the home side's mistakes - but they were still far too good for Martin's men. Nicky Hayen's team were in Glasgow last November and performed superbly against Celtic in the Champions League. How they only left Parkhead with a 1-1 draw is anyone's guess. But they were ruthless at Ibrox. Brugge skipper Hans Vanaken hardly broke sweat in midfield as he ran most of the game. Rangers' players couldn't get near the Belgian international. On the right flank, Portuguese wide man Carlos Forbs caused trouble, while Greek ace Christos Tzolis - who is a £20 million target for Crystal Palace - was a constant threat. They're a top European side who will deserve their Champions League spot if they finish the job in Brugge next week.
Glasgow Times
19 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Celtic hero Sutton mocks Rangers fans for 'walking away'
Fans started leaving Ibrox just 20 minutes into the first leg of the Champions League play-off. The Belgian team took an early 3-0 lead, thanks to goals from Romeo Vermant, Jorne Spileers, and Brandon Mechele. Amazon Prime cameras caught some fans exiting the stadium, clearly unimpressed by Russell Martin's side. Celtic favourite Sutton couldn't resist a jibe, writing on X: "I thought Rangers fans don't do walking away… 20 minutes in and many have given up already…" With the return leg in Brugge next week, Rangers' hopes of a £40 million windfall and a place in the Champions League league phase appear slim. Rangers will need a remarkable comeback to keep their European dream alive.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Glens continue 100% start to go two clear at top
Glentoran continued their 100% start to the season by claiming a 2-0 win over Glenavon at the Oval to move two points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership from Jordan Stewart and Jordan Jenkins in either half made it three wins in a row for Declan Devine's sit second, two points adrift of the Glens, as they maintained their unbeaten record this term with a 2-0 home win over Dungannon United secured their second consecutive victory to start the campaign by defeating Portadown 2-0 at Shamrock drew 1-1 with Larne at Solitude, Tiarnan O'Connor opening the scoring and Joe Gormley equalising, before both sides had one player beat nine-man Bangor 3-1 at Clandeboye, thanks in no small measure to two penalty saves by visiting goalkeeper Musa Dibaga.
