Man Utd v Man City: Will this derby ignite end of season?
And this is the view of City fan Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany, external, who says a win against United will add "a bit of fire" and "exorcise some demons" from a difficult season...
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The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Rangers face Champions League exit after early collapse against Club Brugge
Rangers' horrendous start to their Champions League play-off against Club Brugge left them with a bruising 3-1 defeat at Ibrox and staring at the exit door. In a nightmare beginning to the first leg, Gers defender Nasser Djiga inexplicably allowed a long ball past him in the third minute and grateful visiting striker Romeo Vermant coolly lofted the ball over stranded goalkeeper Jack Butland. And further strikes from Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up after just 20 minutes. Brazilian striker Danilo pulled a goal back four minutes after the break and the home side rallied, but the Belgian outfit stood firm. The return game against Nicky Hayen's men in Belgium next Wednesday will require a huge turnaround, albeit the Govan club are assured Europa League group phase football at least. Wins over Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen in previous qualifiers revealed flaws in Russell Martin 's new-look Gers side and raised concerns in the stands, as did back-to-back draws to start the Premiership campaign. And once again the former Southampton boss incurred the ire of the Light Blue legions. Martin made 10 changes for Saturday's 4-2 Premier Sports Cup victory over Alloa and seven for the visit of the Belgian outfit. The news that elicited the most surprise was that 19-year-old England youth international Jayden Meghoma, who signed on loan from Brentford on Sunday, went straight in at left-back with Max Aarons preferred to experienced club captain James Tavernier at right-back. Jack Butland, John Souttar, Mohamed Diomande, Oliver Antman, Djeidi Gassama, and Nicolas Raskin all returned. Greece international Christos Tzolis, who scored for Greece against Scotland at Hampden Park in March and who has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, started for the visitors, while former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet was in goal. All eyes were on Meghoma, who spent last season on loan at Preston, and he started positively. But a horror mistake by Djiga allowed Tzolis' pass to give Vermant an easy finish which stunned everyone inside the ground. The Gers fans were coming to terms with the needless loss of a goal when Tzolis' corner from the right was knocked past Butland by the unmarked Spileers from 12 yards. The boos that rang round the ground intensified when Mechele, making his 500th appearance for Brugge, stepped all too easily in front of Danilo just outside the Rangers box and gave Butland no chance with an arrowed right-footed drive. A three-goal deficit at the break left the Gers support in a state of shock but they got a lifeline when Danilo slid in to convert an enticing cross from Meghoma. Gassama's angled-drive skipped inches past the far post before Mohamed Diomande and Danilo were replaced by Hamza Igamane and Thelo Aasgaard. Gassama had the ball in the Brugge net in the 78th minute but French referee Francois Letexier was asked by VAR to check his pitchside monitor and quickly decided that Mignolet had the ball in his hand before it was bundled into the net. The Light Blues' second-half display was heartening but it was a chastening first 20 minutes which keeps the spotlight on Martin.
Daily Record
25 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Russell Martin tells Rangers boo boys pain comes before change and being two goals down is a second leg 'privilege'
Sections of the Ibrox crowd were not shy in making their feelings known after the full-time whistle Russell Martin had no problem with Rangers fans booing the team off in their 3-1 loss to Club Brugge - but has pleaded with supporters that the 'precursor to change is pain'. A nightmare first half in which they shipped three goals in 20 minutes has seen Gers' hopes of reaching the promise land of the Champions League left in tatters ahead of the return leg of their Champions League play-off in Belgium in six days time. Thousands of furious fans headed for the exits after the visitors raced into a 2-0 goal lead with just seven minutes on the clock, and those who did stay until the end jeered Martin and his players as they departed the pitch, with Danilo's second half goal reducing the scoreline. And while former Southampton boss Martin understands the fan fury, he reckons Rangers' second half performance has done enough to give those disgruntled punters some hope that they can still progress to Europe's premiere competition. Speaking to Amazon Prime, he said: "Yes, they are all entitled to their opinion, although I do think we are going to need them so much. "This club has had a long period - bar one season - where it hasn't been as successful as it wants to be and as aligned as it wants to be. "So we need to come together. (With) the second half performance, I hope they went away feeling like 'this tie is not over' and that the team wants to run and fight for them and for each other. The team is going to need them. "The precursor to change is pain unfortunately. I knew coming here that there was going to be some pain early on. "We have to make sure that pain is really worth it. We had some big pain tonight in the first half but the player's response has given me nothing and energy about what is to come. "So we all grew together through this but we have to grow together as a club. We need to give the supporters more moments like we did in the second half to really make them feel good about what is to come. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and they are the most important people at the club but we are going to need them. Martin also insists Danilo's consolation has kept the tie very much alive. "I think that goal changes everything", he added. "I think it's a really precarious position. We have been in front by two goals or three goals and gone away to teams who can just throw caution to the wind. "We have the beauty and privilege of being in that position now, hunting and chasing. We definitely go into it underdogs so I am going to enjoy that and I think the players will as well." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers page and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here.
Scottish Sun
25 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Defiant Russell Martin says two mad moments cost Rangers against Club Brugge but Champions League dream isn't over
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN says Rangers paid the price for 'two mad moments' - but refused to write off their Champions League dream. Club Brugge scored three goals inside the first 20 minutes at Ibrox as jittery Gers blew their chance at a £40million jackpot. 4 Russell Martin and players walking off at full-time Credit: PA 4 Dejected Rangers players applaud fans after final whistle Credit: Getty 4 Russell Martin insists they are still in it Credit: PA A horror mix-up between Nasser Djiga and keeper Jack Butland gifted Romeo Vermant the opener before Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele scored. Danilo reduced the deficit and Djeidi Gassama had one ruled out by VAR - but boss Martin believes Gers can fight back. He said: 'We had two mad moments with the goals we conceded early. 'It changed the whole feeling of the game and made so many of our decisions anxious. 'We needed to react better to the goals going in but it was a really difficult time for the guys on the pitch. 'We conceded again because the anxiety in the group was big. 'But I was really proud of the second half performance and the tie is not over. 'We showed aggression, composure and resilience in the second half. The energy was completely different. 'I was really proud of the team in the second half and I enjoyed the performance. 'It was as hard as it will ever be for those lads - but the group will grow from that.' Scots tycoon who led Rangers takeover bid jailed in Dubai over £1m fraud claim Jailed in Dubai Over £1 Million Gold Fraud Furious Gers fans poured out of Ibrox at 3-0 down and there were jeers at the half-time and full-time whistles. But Martin wants the supporters to stay onside ahead of a crucial run of games before the end of this month. He added: 'They are all entitled to their opinion, although we will need them so much. 'The club has had a long period, bar one season, when it's not been as successful as it wants to be. 'We need to come together. After the second-half performance, I hope they go away thinking this tie is not over. 'The pre-cursor to change is pain. I knew there would be pain early on. 'We have to make sure that the pain is worth it. 'The players' response has given me new energy about what's to come. 'We will do everything we can next week to win the game and qualify for the Champions League. 'All of us inside the building need to be really strong and continue with the plan. 'The club has bounced about with many plans that have not worked. 'The level of resilience the team showed in the second half will help us grow a lot. I believe that. 'We are now in the position of hunting and chasing next week. I'm going to enjoy that and I think the players will as well.' 4 Gers scorer Danilo said: 'We will keep fighting to turn everything round.' Brugge boss Nicky Hayen agreed the tie is not over - despite his side's commanding performance. He said: 'When there are still 90 minutes to go, anything is possible. 'We embraced the atmosphere and we were very clever and intelligent. 'We knew where the spaces were and we executed our plan perfectly.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
