A LONG-AWAITED first league win for Russell Martin’s Rangers has arrived.
But despite the Premiership victory over Livingston fans remain unconvinced, as does Gers hero Kris Boyd.
Chants against the under-fire gaffer rang out before and during the match, even coming after the visitors’ last minute winner.
The manager of the Ibrox club erupted as Max Aarons netted in injury time and lifted the giants up into eighth place.
And after such a tight affair against a newly-promoted side, former striker Boyd was far from delighted with the game as a whole.
Speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports, he said: “When you look at the way the game played out, first half Rangers should have been out of sight, second half they stopped doing what got them success in the first half and going in behind.
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“Went back to tippy-tappy, playing it around, getting touch on the balls but really going nowhere.
“All of a sudden Livingston get a goal and get a lift. Ask questions of Rangers again.
“James Tavernier ends up playing three or four positions, they’re trying to move the whole thing about.
“Russell Martin said he’s going to stick to his principles, he’s going to stick to his game plan, but as soon as they’re in that moment of need everything gets shuffled about.
“Listen, it’s a result for Rangers, it’s papering over the cracks let’s not be kidded.
“Everybody tells us this place was a fortress. Livingston, the season before they went down, they were average at best here at home.
“Yeh they were good in the Championship, but they’re a team that’s been promoted and Rangers are leaving here with a 90-odd minute victory.
“It’s still not good enough for Rangers Football Club. And it’s not going away.
“The fans will be delighted the players have managed to find a way to get three points… but when the winning goal goes in the first song the Rangers fans go to is towards Russell Martin and wanting him removed.
“It’s a relief, but it’s papering over the cracks.”
After a nightmare start to the season under Martin, some may say three points are three points.
Boyd recognised that, as he continued: “We can’t sit and criticise and say you just need to win games of football, then when you win games of football still criticise, but you’ve got to analyse it within that.
“Russell Martin keeps speaking about anxiety. You’re away from home against a team that’s just been promoted, no disrespect to Livingston.
“But Rangers were totally dominating that game in the first half by doing things, then Russell’s speaking about the sticky pitch.
“If it’s sticky why are you trying to play it to feet all the time?
“And I know he might not be in full control of that and the players have to take responsibility when they cross that white line.
“Go in behind, that’s where Rangers got their success in the first half, ask questions of Livingston defensively.
“I think that the whole anxiety thing must be within the group. It’s Rangers Football Club coming to Livingston.”
Host Eilidh Barbour interjected: “But it’s a Rangers Football Club who are under a lot of pressure right now.”
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But the former Ibrox star wasn’t having it, as he replied: “Eilidh, I don’t care.
“Have Rangers got better players than Livingston? Of course they have.”
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