Nico Raskin is the Rangers hero as Martin and Stewart feel Ibrox heat

Hibernian were beaten and a place in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup was secured. Ultimately, those were the most important aspects of another headline-grabbing day for Rangers. Supporters made their feelings perfectly clear inside and outside Ibrox as Martin and Patrick Stewart, the under-fire chief executive officer, found themselves in the firing line.

On the park, it was the man who has made more headlines than any other player that provided the big moment as Nico Raskin opened the scoring. Bojan Miovski scored his first goal for the club to give Rangers a 2-0 victory.

Read more:

• Who are the Rangers decision makers? Meet the men who will decide Martin's fate
• Reputation gamble, Martin backing, anger and apathy - Assessing Cavenagh's big call

Back or sack call taken off the table

A stay of execution or the turning of the corner? Time will tell the true significance of this victory for Martin and for Rangers. To say that Martin needed this one was an understatement as Andrew Cavenagh watched on from the stands. It was a case of take it and move on.

One win, of course, is never enough. The visit of Genk on Thursday night is also in the must-win category for Martin, as are the upcoming fixtures with Livingston, Sturm Graz and Falkirk before the next international break. As important as this victory was, it will do nothing to convince those who have turned against Martin that he is the right man to lead Rangers forward.

The men who appointed him will perhaps sleep slightly easier tonight. The first big call of the new era was to name Martin as head coach. The next one is still whether to back him or sack him.

📸Rangers Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and CEO Patrick Stewart watch on at Ibrox. pic.twitter.com/54NQube5PN

— The Rangers Review (@RangersReview55) September 20, 2025

Martin will take the positives out of the performance and will certainly be thankful for the result. He has spoken about the backing he has received from those above him of late and all parties will feel that support has now been vindicated. This demanding, expectant support will be the ones that decided that, though, and there is still much, much more work to be done.

The situation has not changed markedly. There were no boos or abuse on the whistle this time as a fourth win from 13 games was secured. Any Rangers manager with that record is always going to find himself under huge pressure. Right now, he is not the only one at Ibrox.

Better, but still not great

It just had to be him, didn’t it? In a story that could not have been scripted, this was another twist in the tale. The situation with Raskin has been used as a stick to beat Martin with over recent weeks. When the head coach needed a hero, it was the midfielder who stepped forward and delivered. A glancing header from a James Tavernier corner broke the deadlock and saved Martin another chorus of boos at the break.

Before the whistle, Rangers took a significant step towards Hampden. Miovski finished from close range to open his account in his third appearance. Chances have been hard to come by for the striker following his move to Ibrox but he made no mistake with this one after Mikey Moore’s shot was blocked and fell into his path.

Those were the only moments in another largely lethargic first 45 minutes from Martin’s side. It was still not at the level expected, but it was a small step in the right direction.

A third was not needed in the end. Djeidi Gassama hit the bar from distance before Miovski was denied as Grant Hanley cleared off the line. The offside flag denied Miovski from close range. Late on, Youssef Chermiti couldn't open his account as Raphael Sallinger saved when one-on-one.

Game turned on VAR call

Martin Boyle should have had the ball in the net after 15 minutes. It was the first real foray forward from Hibs as the Rangers defence was split by a Josh Mulligan pass. Kieran Bowie rounded Jack Butland and set up Boyle. From inside the area, Boyle scooped his effort over.

Four minutes later, he did convert. Rangers were again suspect defensively but were saved by a VAR ruling for handball on this occasion. Boyle burst away from Derek Cornelius and Butland couldn’t get a strong enough hand to stop his effort from trickling into the corner. In the week the SFA admitted to VAR blunders against Rangers, this one went in their favour.

It proved a crucial let off for Rangers. Boyle came close with a header in the minutes after Raskin’s opener but the strike from Miovski was a blow for the visitors.

Ibrox was now behind Martin’s side and Hibernian faced a tall order to salvage their cup dreams. The comeback never looked on. The second half was negotiated relatively comfortably as Rangers progressed to the last four.

Raskin is the man of the moment

It turns out that playing your best player is a good thing after all. For the first time since the defeat in Brugge, Raskin featured for Rangers. The weeks since then have, of course, been somewhat volatile. Martin bombed him out of the squad for the Old Firm draw and he watched on from the stands as Hearts won here last weekend.

Raskin was given the loudest cheer of all when the team was announced over the PA ten minutes before kick-off. Fans have chanted his name in support over the last two matches, and they did so again here as the Belgian felt the love like few others have of late. Raskin’s name was heard inside the first minute.

"It had to be him!" 🎙️

Nico Raskin heads in to give Rangers the lead on his return to the starting lineup 🔵#PremierSportsCup | @spfl pic.twitter.com/EItKrovSVl

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 20, 2025

A tame effort that was dragged wide never threatened Hibernian but at least it was an attempt from Rangers. Raskin tried to drive his side on from the middle of the park but had little joy given the paucity of the resources around him.

The roar that followed the announcement of him as the scorer was perhaps louder than the one that greeted the goal that broke the deadlock. There was no interaction between the head coach and the midfielder. Raskin roused the home support and the significance of the moment would not have been lost on him.

The man of the match award was never going to anyone else here. Raskin applauded the crowd when he was replaced in the final minutes and exchanged a brief embrace with his manager.

Fans make their voice heard

This was an afternoon where events off the park were as pertinent as those on it. A protest group a couple of thousand strong gathered at the front door more than an hour before kick-off as the placards showing the faces of Martin and Patrick Stewart were distributed. A banner which read ‘Take aim against Stewart and Martin’ was unfurled and chants were directed at both.

Martin and his players could not have failed to hear the anger outside as they prepared inside the home dressing room. In the Blue Room, Stewart and the Rangers hierarchy would have been well aware of the sentiment on the street. This is a defining period for Cavenagh and his hierarchy.

‘Delaying the inevitable. Martin must go.’

Balls are thrown onto the park from the Union Bears section. pic.twitter.com/s3Q2s2DpTh

— Chris Jack (@Chris_Jack89) September 20, 2025

The action continued in the stands. Those now infamous red circle banners were held aloft in their hundreds as the teams took to the pitch. A chant of ‘Martin, Martin get to f***’ started just seconds after the first whistle. Other banners reading ‘Martin out’ and ‘Stewart out’ were displayed in the Broomloan Stand.

The game was delayed ten minutes in as a banner reading ‘Delaying the inevitable. Martin must go’ was shown and rubber balls were throw onto the pitch.

Early in the second half, a message of ‘Quick to blame fans. Slow to admit failure. Stewart out’ received applause from around the ground. The official attendance was given as 34,682.