Ally McCoist has warned Rangers boss Russell Martin that he's "in big trouble" as the Ibrox crowd continues to rally against the under-fire manager. Their Europa League adventure got off to a nightmare start with a drab 1-0 loss to Genk, and the home crowd made it brutally clear they've had enough of Martin in charge. It was another chaotic night that included a VAR controversy, a red card, and the killer blow delivered by none other than a former Celtic striker.
Tempers boil over as Rangers flop again
South Korean forward Hyeon-Gyu Oh broke Rangers hearts, slotting home in the second half after missing a penalty earlier in the match. It was a bitter twist for the Ibrox faithful, who had already been raging at the referee’s calls and their own team’s lifeless display.
AdvertisementVAR chaos and red card spark fury
The game spiralled out of control in a few frantic minutes. Rangers thought they had a penalty for handball, only for VAR to send the referee to the screen. Instead of pointing to the spot, the official gave Genk a free-kick, leaving the home support seething. Moments later, midfielder Mohammed Diomande was shown red for a shin-high challenge, reducing Martin’s side to ten men. Before the break, skipper James Tavernier gave away a penalty, but goalkeeper Jack Butland kept Rangers alive with a superb save to deny Oh. Still, the reprieve was short-lived. Oh, once on the books at Celtic, finally took his chance, firing into the corner to seal a result that left the stadium echoing with boos and banners demanding change.
Getty Images SportMcCoist's warning as fans hold nothing backs
The atmosphere at Ibrox turned hostile. Banners with Martin’s face crossed out were hoisted high, a clear message from sections of the support that patience has run out. And McCoist, Rangers’ legendary striker and former boss, didn’t sugarcoat the crisis.
"Absolutely, of course they are. They've got every right to, totally justified with the disappointment in what we've seen," he said. "It clearly hasn't been good enough, and it isn't good enough, and tonight was another disappointment. You can point to the red card, the deserved red card, but it goes deeper than that, the level of performances haven't been good enough."
The manager in danger
McCoist admitted he was stunned by the lacklustre display he witnessed on and off the pitch, which highlights the crisis that the club is in.
"I just felt, coming into the stadium tonight, it kind of blew me away. It was nothing like a normal atmosphere of any game, never mind a European game, here at Ibrox," he added. "There was an apathy, there was no life about the place actually on or off the pitch, which is really, really concerning. Listen, the manager's in trouble, the manager's in big trouble because something has to change, and something has to change dramatically. On the current evidence, sadly, I can't see it happening."
