Teenager Findlay Curtis rescued ragged Rangers with a late strike in a 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw at St Mirren to leave Russell Martin still looking for his first league win in charge.
The visitors started without a recognised centre-forward with midfielder Thelo Aasgaard leading the line and they found themselves behind in the 33rd minute when Saints striker Jonah Ayunga raced through to beat goalkeeper Jack Butland. Martin changed tactics and personnel in the second half and in the 78th minute, 18-year-old substitute Curtis drilled in the equaliser with his third goal of the season but it left under-fire Martin with three wins in nine games as Rangers head coach.
Martin’s side have now drawn against Motherwell, Dundee and the Buddies, the first time since 1989 that Rangers have gone without a victory in their first three league games. Celtic can go nine points clear of their rivals if they win the Old Firm game at Ibrox next Sunday. First Rangers have to rescue their Champions League hopes with a trip to Club Brugge on Wednesday, where they look to claw back a 3-1 deficit from the first leg of the playoff.
There were eyebrows raised before the game when it emerged that Aasgaard’s first start would be at centre-forward with Danilo and Hamza Igamane starting on the bench and Cyriel Dessers still injured.
