Martin 'proud' amid Rangers Champions League woe

Russell Martin insists Rangers' Champions League hopes remain alive and that he is "proud" of his players despite them conceding three times in a wretched opening 20 minutes of a 3-1 play-off first leg defeat at the hands of Club Brugge.

The Scottish Premiership were a goal down after three minutes, two behind after seven, and three in arrears after 20 as a cacophony of boos enveloped Ibrox.

Rangers did stem the bleeding, and snatched a goal in the second half which gives them a slither of hope of turning the tie around in Belgium next Wednesday, but will need to improve significantly to have any hope of reaching the Champions League.

"That's as hard as it will ever be for the players on the pitch. I'm proud of how they responded," said Martin.

"We concede a crazy goal and don't respond anywhere near well enough. Then we concede out of anxiety and make decisions based on desperation. The game plan went out the window.

"When you're 2-0 down after seven minutes, tactics don't come into it. It's not about style of play it's about the reaction and we didn't react well.

"They all displayed courage in the second half. We recovered properly and we hurt them as much as they hurt us. That goal changes everything.

"The tie is still open. We have the privilege of hunting and chasing. We go in as underdogs - I'll enjoy that and I think the players will as well."

Judging by the furious reaction of the Rangers supporters during the mortifying opening quarter of the game, again when the half time whistle blew, then at the end of the game, not all will agree with Martin's assessment.

When asked about the tumult of anger that rolled down from the Ibrox stands, the head coach acknowledged that the fans were entitled to react as they did, but cautioned that "the precursor to change is pain".

"I understand the intensity and emotion here but it can't change the way we work and become a weight around the players necks," Martin said.

"There has been fragility in this club for a long, long time. The club has bounced around different plans and its been hinged on emotions. Now we have owners that understand where the club has been, where's it at, and where's it going.

"I came to this club knowing it wasn't going to be easy or a quick fix. I hope we'll be judged in May and by then we'll be in a really good place and winning stuff.

"There are loads for us to be excited about moving forward. We have to go next week and really attack it."

What did the pundits say?

BBC Scotland's chief sports writer Tom English: "If Russell Martin doesn't change, he will get the sack. You can't keep defending like that, because you will lose games. He either adapts or he won't be here very long."

Former Rangers striker & coach Billy Dodds: "Russell Martin has to show things are changing but they don't seem to be. Signing 10 players is meant to make things better but it remains to be seen if they're better than the players here before."

Former Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor: "Why does it take going behind to get the enthusiasm and start going forward. Why can't Rangers do that from the start?It seems at the start everybody is a bit fearful of making a mistake."

Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson: "Rangers have shown they can hurt teams, but unless they sort the defending, this will keep happening. I don't think they have it in them to go there and get a clean sheet and that's what they need."

Former Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield: "Rangers were off it and they were punished. Brugge came here to try and dampen the crowd, and next week when we go there we need to do the same."

What did the fans make of it?

Sandy: Not surprised at all by this. The club have been going backwards since they sacked Giovanni Van Bronckhorst for one bad result. He was the club's opportunity to progress, but usual club failings and fan attitude killed that. Since then the manager appointments have been second rate and inexperienced.

Robbie: One of the worst managerial appointments ever in the history of a once proud club. Not even worthy of another game, been atrocious all season. Second rate manager who should never have been employed.

Richard H: It was always a bizarre managerial appointment. Unbelievable that he got the Rangers job after last season's farce at Southampton. Wouldn't be surprised to see Martin out by the end of September.

Barry: As a Saints fan, good to see Russell Martin has not changed. Oh, forgot, the man is incapable of changing. Stubborn to the last, even when his philosophy is awful, slow football.