John Souttar makes Russell Martin criticism call after Rangers unrest

For some members of the side, that should have come as no surprise. They have, after all, been through these scenarios on more than one occasion. Russell Martin is becoming accustomed to them, too.

There is only so much damage that any manager can sustain in a short period of time. This was another result and performance that left Martin battered and bruised. The knockout blow will come next week when Club Brugge finish what they have started and progress to the Champions League.

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The reaction at various stages of evening was indicative. The decibel level hit new heights after each of the three Brugge goals. Martin was in the firing line at every turn, but defender John Souttar insists fingers can be pointed at the players in the blame game.

“Of course it’s difficult, but when you are here at Rangers and 3-0 down you have to expect it,” Souttar said. “Everyone knows the demands here and the demands were to win and get through that tie. 

“We still have next week obviously but the way we started we put pressure on ourselves. The first two goals especially were poor, so we have to look back on that and next week we need to start better.

“Look, I think it’s unfair for him to take the flak. I think we all have to take it. It’s not just the manager, I think we are all due it. 

“Everyone at this club who wants to play here has to understand that when things are not going well and the demands are not met then you are going to take the flak. You need to accept that.”

The manner of the defeat was worse than the outcome. Rangers were not favourites to win on the night but the expectation was for them to at least be competitive, to show the signs of improvement that Martin references and requires.

The first half was a shambolic display. Rangers were better after the break. But the goal from Danilo will be irrelevant in the tie as Brugge – who could have extended their advantage – managed the game and put themselves on the brink of qualification.

“First half I think we actually shot ourselves in the foot with how we started,” Souttar said. “When you give away the goals we did that makes any game difficult. 

“Especially a game like that when there is so much at stake and we are playing against a team of that quality. Second half we were a bit better and made them a bit more uncomfortable but first half I thought the damage was done.

 “I think that’s going to put anyone off. You can plan for anything, but you can’t plan for losing two goals like that. 

“Especially on an occasion like that and it’s up to us to react. We did a bit in the second half and got the goal back and now we’ve got to go over there and see what happens.”

Souttar reflected on events and insisted that the game plan from Martin ‘was good’ as he pointed to the second period and Rangers showing they ‘can go man for man with them’. By that stage, the game and the tie was beyond the home side.

Martin needed a big night at Ibrox. It turned into one that raised more questions than answers. The return leg in Brugge is now a shot to nothing for Rangers.

“Of course we have to cling on to that, we have to cling on to something,” Souttar said. “The way we played second half we were on the front foot and obviously it’s easier when you have nothing to lose. 

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“We wanted to start like that but when you lose two goals like that it naturally derails everything.  It’s going to derail any game plan, so second half we were a bit better and when we go over there next week we’ve got to play like that.

“I thought we brought all the pressure on ourselves by conceding those two goals in the manner we did. That brings pressure on yourself and makes everything harder so we have to go over there and we have to be on the front foot. 

“We can’t afford to give goals away the way we did and we need to implement our game plan on them instead of giving them the start we did. 

“Look, there is still the belief because we have had big results away from home in Europe in the last few years so there is that belief. But there is no point saying that, we need to go and show it.”