Rangers face familiar problems

Rangers face early season pressure as they fall behind Celtic and navigate a busy schedule tied to European play.

No Quick Fix as Martin Faces Familiar Rangers Problems

Rangers failed to win their opening two league games of the season, the first time that has happened since 1989. They sit one point behind Celtic, who have a game in hand. If their Europa League tie against Plzen goes to a second leg, the club may postpone the league clash with St Mirren on 24 August to prepare for the playoff, potentially widening the gap before the next derby. Rangers were fortunate to escape Motherwell with a point after ending the match with 10 men, and captain James Tavernier rescued another late equaliser via a penalty after coming on as a substitute.

Martin described the first half as lethargic and lacking speed, and he warned that mentality must come from the first whistle. He accepted some blame for not injecting energy with changes, saying he explained his decision before the game and could have altered it in hindsight. The issue has led a BBC Scotland pundit to label Rangers as Jekyll and Hyde, a line that echoes a pattern seen under the last two managers.

Martin's challenge is to translate sharp European displays into steady league form. Rangers have often shown quality in Europe only to dip at home, and the Jekyll and Hyde critique under a new manager signals deeper issues: consistency, squad rotation, and alignment between tactics and tempo. The fixture congestion around the playoff could excuse some slow starts, but it also sharpens the need for clear decisions from the bench. If the club wants to close the gap with Celtic, it must start games with pace and keep it until the final whistle.

Highlights

The coming weeks will test whether Martin can convert early-season pressure into a turning point.