Rangers fans have Martin in their sights despite Livi winner

James Tavernier opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the campaign and then missed a chance to make it five for the season as his penalty was saved. Derek Cornelius saw a strike ruled out after a VAR check.

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Rangers couldn't add to their lead. Mo Sylla wiped it out with 22 minutes remaining as David Martindale's side sensed a comeback victory was on the cards. The winner came late as Max Aarons scored at the back post.

Martin in the firing line again

The first chants against the head coach were heard with a quarter of an hour on the clock and the scoreboard still showing 0-0. It was started in the section to Martin’s right where the Union Bears were housed and a smattering of those around the ground joined in. It was evidence, not that it was needed, that the ill-feeling against Martin is still there and will be for some time. Or, in all likelihood, he is removed from his position.

The messages of ‘Martin, Martin get to f***’ and ‘Russell Martin, get out of our club’ have become familiar soundtracks to Rangers fixtures. The banner showing the crossed-out faces of Martin and Patrick Stewart was on display once again. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh was not in attendance after ending his time in Glasgow late last week but will have been an interested observer from afar.

Those same chants were directed at the away dugout in the aftermath of Livingston’s equaliser. In response, the home crowd responded with cries of ‘one Russell Martin’. Nobody in red, white and blue saw the funny side of the situation at that stage.

The away support celebrated the winner and then turned their sights on Martin again. At the final whistle, the feelings of relief were matched by those of anger. It was a bizarre end to a dramatic afternoon.

The league table doesn't lie

The sight of Rangers sitting eleventh in the Premiership was a hard one to come to terms with for supporters, no matter how often they have seen the standings of late. The nightmare scenario of his side going bottom before a ball was kicked here did not materialise for Martin. He has Aberdeen – still without a goal and with a single point – to thank for that.

Four points from five fixtures was part of a wider issue of just four victories in 14 matches for Rangers. It is relegation form. Indeed, many supporters have already written off the chances of a title challenge, never mind a title triumph this term. Six fixtures in, Rangers sit eighth and level on seven points with Kilmarnock.

Celtic’s trials and tribulations have only added to the frustrations. The draw at home to Hibernian on Saturday barely registered with the blue half of the city. Once again, they know that Rangers – as a club and a team – are not in a position to capitalise, that they cannot ask any questions to put any pressure on.

The deficit to Hearts is a more pertinent point right now. Philippe Clement felt the pressure of being cut adrift of Aberdeen during their burst out of the blocks last season. The Dons were unable to maintain that form, but it would be wrong to assume that Derek McInnes and his players will make the same mistakes.

Right now, it is Hearts that Rangers need to worry about. Martin spoke pre-match about his belief that he can still lift the silverware. That feeling is not mutual outside of Ibrox.

Progress? What progress?

It is fair to say that goals have been somewhat hard to come by for Martin’s side this season. Before this fixture, just three had been scored in five Premiership matches. Chance conversion has been a real issue, but so has chance creation. The first 45 minutes here was better in one regard and should have seen an improvement in the other.

The first real opportunity for the visitors fell the way of Bojan Miovski. Nico Raskin diverted a John Souttar pass over the top of the Livingston defence and the North Macedonian waited for the ball to settle. He only had keeper Jerome Prior to beat but blasted his effort over the target from the edge of the area. It was one that Miovski really should have put away.

Tavernier should have doubled the lead from the spot after he opened the scoring. If the second goal had arrived before the break, Martin’s side would have had the points wrapped up with 45 minutes still to play.

Prior made a terrific stop to get down to a Connor Barron strike and then denied Souttar from close range. He had to pick the ball out of the net after Derek Cornelius scored but a VAR check to penalise the Canadian for handball was brief as Rangers had to settle for a single goal lead.

If the first half had been a slight improvement, the second was Rangers reverting to type. It was appalling, uninspiring stuff. The closing stages were frantic as Mikey Moore forced Prior into action before the keeper made a terrific save from a Miovski header. Aarons was the hero in injury time after a Tavernier corner.

Livingston denied at the death

The first warning signs came in quick succession in the opening minutes. Jack Butland saved well from Stevie May after he advanced down the right channel, before Lewis Smith fired just wide of target from distance. The away fans would have been anxious at that stage.

Livingston couldn’t sustain the pressure, though. There were moments when Rangers almost played themselves into trouble and May occupied his markers well. Butland was not involved for long spells and it was Rangers who found their rhythm as Martindale’s side struggled to assert themselves before the break.

After the restart, the pattern was the same. May claimed for a penalty after being bundled over by Souttar but offside was the decision that was given. The veteran striker forced Butland into action with a smart stop as the hosts continued to look to most likely to score the second goal.

When they did, it looked like going on to add to it. Sylla converted from close range after a short corner routine paid off, with the scorer peeling away from Souttar to head home an Adam Montgomery cross. Both sides deserved it at that point. Livingston were left with nothing to show for their efforts in the end.

A mixed afternoon for the captain

The season started with questions over Tavernier’s place at the club, never mind his place in the squad or the team. Several weeks in, the captain looks secure in all regards. The man who was signed to supposedly challenge him, on-loan right-back Aarons, returned to the bench following his European suspension.

It looks like a long way back into starting contention for Aarons right now after a difficult start to his Rangers career. Perhaps this late, late winner will prove to be the turning point for him?

Tavernier has not hit the heights of previous seasons over recent weeks. He has not been the worst offender in this underperforming group, however. The questions over his defensive capabilities are certainly not going to go away at this stage but he showed his value at the other end as he opened the scoring at a time when Rangers needed a goal.

Djeidi Gassama provided the cross from the left and Oliver Antman kept it alive on the right. Tavernier was where a right-back really shouldn’t be but he so often is. From six yards, he produced an acrobatic finish. It was the first time Rangers had taken the lead on league duty since he scored at Fir Park on the opening day of the campaign.

The penalty miss will have frustrated Tavernier. It was the 20th time in his Rangers career that he has failed to convert from 12 yards. To be fair, the save from Prior deserved more praise than Tavernier deserved criticism. A wasted cross from a promising position just minutes later perhaps summed up Tavernier’s fortunes this term.

The right-back moved to centre-back alongside Souttar after Cornelius was forced off. When Jayden Meghoma had to be replaced, Martin moved to a three with Aarons and Tavernier either side of Souttar.