Latest news with #NedimBajrami
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rangers survive Alloa scare as Russell Martin search for scintillating style rumbles on
A week of criticism stung after a dismal draw with Dundee and defeat in Pilsen. But Rangers ensured the Wasps never inflicted any more pain - even if fans were far from buzzing at this display. Gers huffed and puffed and flirted with disaster as they warmed up for the Champions League play-off crunch with Club Brugge with a 4-2 win sealed in the 90th minute. READ MORE: Premier Sports Cup draw in full as Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen discover their fate READ MORE: VAR audio leak of 'harsh' Rangers penalty vs Alloa shows exactly what officials thought Goals from Nedim Bajrami, a first in light blue for Manny Fernandez, a James Tavernier penalty and Findlay Curtis late settler eventually ensured their quarter final spot. Bajrami netted the opener in the 14th minute when he played a one-two with Mikey Moore before bending a 20 yard effort in off the bar. But Alloa stunned Ibrox when they levelled on 24 minutes through a comic-cuts own goal. Steven Buchanan got in behind Bailey Rice and had an angled shot saved by Liam Kelly before a spot of pinball in the box ended with Max Aarons cannoning a desperate clearance into the net off Joe Rothwell's head. Four minutes later the home side were back ahead though when Fernandez rose to power home a header from Rothwell's free kick. But the home fans were made to wait until the 67th minute for the third when Oscar Cortes' effort was blocked by Cameron O'Donnell's hand and sub James Tavernier kept his record of scoring in every domestic game so far in tact from the spot. Still Rangers were made to sweat as Scott Taggart fired home Alloa's second with 11 minutes to go. O'Donnell's deep free kick was headed off the bar by David Devine and Taggart poked home. Nerves spread through Ibrox. But sub Findlay Curtis finally put the game to bed as he cooly slotted into the bottom corner in the 90th minute. Got there in the end There was no repeat of the Scottish Cup humbling by Queen's Park at Ibrox back in February. But this was far from scintillating from Rangers. Slack at the back and too slow in building attacks, what should have been a routine win ended in another nerve-ridden ending for fans looking for inspiration. Russell Martin ripped up his starting XI with starts for Oscar Cortes, Manny Fernandez, Nedim Bajrami, Bailey Rice, Kieran Dowell and a debut for Mikey Moore. The experiment failed to deliver much of a breakthrough though. It's unfair to expect Rice to fill in at left back while Bajrami did okay in midfield and Moore had a lively introduction. But the fans are getting restless with the pedestrian build-up and Alloa's four shots, three on target, in the first half all came from unforced errors with Fernandez not looking overly convincing defending, despite his threat in the Alloa box. The final scoreline never flattered Alloa which tells its own story. Moore the merrier Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore has had to wait to announce himself as red tape halted the winger's eligibility until he turned 18 last week. But after being unleashed for his debut the kid was looking to make a fast impression in his first outing at Ibrox. Three minutes 40 seconds were on the clock when he turned inside and tested Liam McFarlane with a fizzing low effort before stinging the keepers palms again after 10 minutes. The teen looked direct, can go to the bye-line or cut inside, and gave former St Mirren kid Owen Foster a torrid time on the flank for the first half. Moore's likely going to have to be patient with Djedei Gassama exploding onto the scene since his move form Sheffield Wednesday. But it's another option for Martin Igamane the man? Hamza Igamane made his first appearance since the home win over Panathinaikos as a second half sub. And the Moroccan showed enough in a lively 22 minute cameo to give Martin serious thought over who should lead the line against Brugge. Danilo, again, flattered to deceive and remains goal-lessor the season. Igamane injected power, a hunger to shoot on sight and dragged the Alloa defence out of position. HIs ability to cause mayhem in the box is another tool that could well come in handy for Gers as they look for a focal point through the middle. Brugge headache Rangers made heavy weather of this - but the challenge was night and day to what lies in store on Tuesday night. Ibrox will be rocking to its foundations for the Brugge blockbuster that has a £40m spot in the Champions League hanging on it. Martin had another look at fringe men against Alloa but don't expect any to have forced their way into his starting XI to face the Belgians. Expect a more familiar line-up with Oliver Antman, Djeidi Gassama, John Souttar, James Tavernier, Nico Raskin and Jack Butland back in, with perhaps Igamane making a case for a start. Wasps sting Alloa won their opening six games of the season before finally losing to Stranraer in the cup in midweek - and they showed why they are a real force at their level here. As well as forcing the own goal leveller, Andy Graham's side carved out three more decent first half efforts as they caught Rangers on the break and fed off lackadaisical Gers' mistakes at the back. Steven Buchanan caused problems on the right while the experienced Stefan Scougall backed him up. Their second goal was deserved after the break. This ultimately wasn't Alloa's fight. But they look more than capable of mounting a promotion push in the third tier.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
'I want to be one of the best players in the world,' says loan star Mikey Moore as Jayden Meghoma joins him at Rangers
Mikey Moore insists he sees his season-long loan at Rangers as a platform to help him become one of the best players in world football. The 18-year-old winger signed a new long-term contract at Tottenham Hotspur shortly after agreeing his move across the border and made his debut for the Ibrox outfit in their 4-2 home win over Alloa in the Premier Sports Cup. Moore started brightly, setting up Nedim Bajrami for the opening goal, and showed flashes of his ability before being replaced by Thelo Aasgaard on 69 minutes. He promises there is far more to come, though, and has set his sights high when addressing how big an incentive it is to show he can go on to become a bona-fide English Premier League player. 'It's massive for me,' said Moore, who has been joined at Rangers by his England Under-19 team-mate Jayden Meghoma after he completed a loan move from Brentford. 'I want to go and play in the biggest competitions and I want to be one of the best players in the world, hopefully. 'I've signed a new contract at Spurs, but, at the minute, I'm focused on playing here. I'm just buzzing to go and play some massive games at this football club. 'I want to become a better player here and I think there are massive opportunities. 'I just want to play as many games as possible, score as many goals and excite as many people as I can.' And Moore is clear that he would like the chance to star in Tuesday's Champions League qualifying play-off first leg against Belgians Club Brugge. 'It's a massive game, as every game is when you play for Rangers,' he said. 'I'm excited for it. 'I saw some of the games in the earlier rounds and it's been good to qualify, so it's a massive opportunity for me and all the boys. I can't wait.' Moore made five outings for Spurs in the group stage of the Europa League last season, but missed out on the 1-1 group stage draw with Rangers at Ibrox because of illness. He then watched from the bench as the London club went on to win the tournament under former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou. He hopes those experiences under his belt will help him kick on in UEFA competition for Rangers this term. 'It was a really good season in Europe for me and for the team, so I've had some good experiences and I'm ready to go and show more,' he said. 'I want to go and make more of an impact on a European stage.' Meanwhile, new arrival Meghoma declared himself 'hungry and excited' to get going at Ibrox after being reunited with manager Russell Martin. The 19-year-old left-back has joined Rangers on loan in a deal which paves the way for Jefte to complete an anticipated move back to Brazil to sign for Palmeiras. Meghoma made his first-team debut for Southampton under Martin, making four cup appearances in all before signing for Brentford last summer. He has also made four appearances for the Bees and spent the second half of last season on loan at Preston. He told the Rangers website: 'I am very excited to be here, it is a fantastic club and I know a lot about the rich history of Rangers. 'When the deal was presented to me, I thought straight away that it would be a fantastic opportunity for myself and my family. 'The main thing for me is getting results. Rangers is a big club and I am ready, I am hungry and excited to get going.' Ibrox head coach Martin added: 'I am really pleased to welcome Jayden to Rangers. I have worked with him before and I know exactly what he brings. He is a young player with big potential, real athleticism and a great attitude. 'He is hungry to learn and improve and I'm confident he'll thrive in this environment. We're excited to help him take the next step in his career here at Ibrox.'
The National
3 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Martin casts verdict on Rangers' performance vs Alloa
Goals from Nedim Bajrami, Emmanuel Fernandez, James Tavernier and Findlay Curtis helped the Ibrox club into the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup, where they will be at home to either Hibernian or Livingston. "I saw lots of really good stuff," Martin said of Rangers' victory this evening when speaking to Premier Sports post-match. Read more: "We started the game with real intent and then scored. We can't then sustain the intensity all the time. "I saw a few too many moments in the first half that they shouldn't get. "But there was lots of good stuff. "There will be a lot of players that will be better for this. It's Manny's [Emmanuel Fernandez] first game, Mikey's [Moore] first game, and the guys around haven't played pretty much. "There's a lot to be really excited about. And it's my job to always want more from the players and us as a group. So we'll look at it, and we'll learn from it. "I'm pleased with where we're going, but we have to keep working always." Rangers return to action on Tuesday evening as they face Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Premier Sports Cup quarter-final draw revealed in full
Nedim Bajrami, Emmanuel Fernandez, James Tavernier and Findlay Curtis got on the scoresheet as Russell Martin secured his first domestic win in charge of the club. Read more: Celtic booked their place in the quarter-finals last night with a 4-1 thrashing of Falkirk. Partick Thistle, Aberdeen, Motherwell, St Mirren, and Rangers all won today to do so as well. Although there are two more last 16 ties to be played out - Kilmarnock vs Dundee United and Livingston vs Hibernian - the fixtures for the quarter-finals have been confirmed. Premier Sports Cup quarter-final draw in full Kilmarnock/Dundee United vs St Mirren Partick Thistle vs Celtic Rangers vs Livingston/Hibernian Aberdeen vs Motherwell All of the above ties will take place on the weekend of September 20/21. There is still a wealth of football to be played up until then, with Celtic and Rangers both in Champions League play-off action over the coming weeks.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Rangers learn Premier Sports Cup quarter-final opponents
The quarter-final tie will take place on the weekend of September 20/21. Nedim Bajrami, Emmanuel Fernandez, James Tavernier and Findlay Curtis got on the scoresheet at Ibrox tonight as boss Martin secured his first domestic win in charge. Read more: All eyes now turn to the European scene, with Rangers up against Club Brugge in a crucial Champions League play-off. The Belgians come to Glasgow on Tuesday, before Martin takes his men to the Jan Breydel Stadium the following Wednesday. Sandwiched between the tie is a game away to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership. Rangers withdrew their request to postpone the match earlier this week. "I think we were told that the option would be there," said Martin. "I think the plan has always been to play the game unless, depending on what happened on Tuesday, if we get through this and all that stuff. So it's been flexible. "But our league table this early on will not dictate what we do with a game, honestly."
