Rangers face early tests after Dundee draw

Rangers could not turn pressure into a win and face questions about their start under Russell Martin after a late draw with Dundee.

Rangers falter in opening two league games as mentality comes under pressure

Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee at Ibrox, with James Tavernier converting a stoppage-time penalty to rescue a point after Dundee struck first in the second half. Nasser Djiga saw red for a last-man foul late on, leaving Rangers with ten men and a sense of urgency around their energy and shape. A late Cyriel Dessers goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review, denying the hosts what looked like a dramatic winner.

From the opening two league games, Rangers have two points, a milestone no one wants to repeat in the club’s long history. They pressed with intent in bursts and finished with 20 attempts, but only five found the target. They also logged 709 passes, their highest in a league game since last season, signalling possession was there even if finishing and tempo were not.

Martin faces a critical test as he tries to translate squad depth into consistent intensity from the first whistle. The red card and the late equaliser masked the underlying issue: a need for sharper energy from kickoff, not just after going behind. The post-match tone suggested a focus on mentality, with players urged to sustain aggression and speed for the full 90 minutes.

With Viktoria Plzen waiting in Champions League qualifying, the clock is already ticking. The challenge now is to convert improved moments into a reliable start to matches, balancing squad changes with the necessity of early tempo. If Rangers cannot tighten the opener, the short season risks repeating similar echoes of frustration from supporters and critics alike.

Highlights

The season is young and the answers will come only with consistent start-to-finish focus.