The Old Firm derby on Sunday will have Europa League teams. If Celtic have deep regrets over misfires in Kazakhstan, Rangers endured a night of near-historic shame in Belgium, utterly incapable of recovering from the first‑leg performance. By contrast to this horror show, that night of blunder was a creditable showing. Russell Martin’s team made it so simple for an admittedly high-class Brugge side.
On Martin the jury is out, his winless start to the domestic season followed by this nightmare. The former Southampton manager’s stewardship is in grave danger after 10 games in charge.
The response of the club’s new 49ers ownership, for whom Martin was the first managerial appointment, is keenly awaited. The depths to which Rangers plunged, particularly in the first half, made a mockery of his continued self-belief, his proclamations that his is the only way forward.
Martin’s team selection was, he said, custom-designed to reduce the two‑goal deficit from Ibrox. Leaving Nico Raskin, James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers on the bench was a decision open to a different interpretation. Hamza Igamane was absent, presumably headed for Lille.
Brugge attempted to finish the tie as soon as possible. It proved all too easy. Carlos Forbs’s run and Jayden Meghoma’s early bookable offence was an early warning sign unheeded. In the fifth minute, Nicolò Tresoldi nodded in after a statuesque Rangers defence allowed an overlapping Joaquin Seys to cross from the left.
