The league table doesn't lie. Yet it also doesn't tell the full story of just how out of his depth Russell Martin is as Rangers head coach or the full scale of the predicament that is facing the Ibrox hierarchy.
It took Rangers six attempts to win a match in the Premiership. Time will tell if Martin gets the chance to take charge of number eight against Dundee United. This draw with Falkirk simply has to be the end for him.
Falkirk spent most of the first half on the front foot but were behind at the break after Bojan Miovski opened the scoring. It was a lead Martin's side did not deserve.
The Bairns got their rewards midway through the second period. John McGlynn introduced Henry Cartwright and was rewarded minutes later as a stunning strike pulled the hosts level.
Read more:
- 'We don't have time' - Miovski outlines Rangers situation amid Martin pressure
- 'It's not really a choice' - Cornelius demands Rangers self responsibility in defeat
The winner did not arrive for either side. Falkirk didn't get what they should have given their efforts. Rangers got more than they merited. The reaction at the whistle said it all about where Rangers are under Martin and where they are heading under his guidance.
Board must listen to the fans and act
The cheers of celebration were followed by the sound of frustration. For the second Sunday on the spin, the away supporters marked a goal by making a point. Miovski’s moment that gave Martin’s side the lead was briefly lauded before attentions were turned on the head coach once again. The chants are well-known by this stage, of course.
They were heard at various points of the afternoon and once again at the full-time whistle. Martin spoke about finding himself in the firing line before the defeat to Sturm Graz and then ahead of this fixture. Ultimately, his words mean nothing to the fans and the only action they want at Ibrox is for the head coach to be removed from his role during the international break.
This next tranche of matches will shape what Rangers can hope to achieve this term. The Europa League fixtures are already classed as must-win and the Old Firm showdown at Hampden next month speaks for itself. Martin should not be given the chance to lead Rangers into that run. On every measurable metric, he should be, as the chant says, sacked in the morning.
He has been lucky to get this far. He could have gone after Bruges, he should have gone after Hearts. If he goes now, many will see it as a reign too long and a decision made too late.
Rangers are not getting better and will not get better. There is nothing about this situation that is acceptable or that offers hope. Martin is done as head coach. The only questions now are when the decision will be made and who he takes down with him at Ibrox.
The gap grows in the Premiership
It is unusual to have the Old Firm in action on the same day at the same time. Had this campaign panned out differently, Rangers would have been keeping an eye on Celtic and Brendan Rodgers would have had an interest in how Martin’s side were faring. At half-time, Rangers were a goal to the good and Celtic had been pegged back by Motherwell, but events elsewhere would have meant almost nothing to the respective managers or supports.
WHAT A STRIKE 🚀
Henry Cartwright’s rocket gives Falkirk a deserved equaliser! ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/0PBPx7Q7MV— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 5, 2025
Rangers will always be judged against Celtic, and vice versa. It is Hearts that are the issue for both bosses at Ibrox and Parkhead right now, however. Celtic must keep Derek McInnes and his in-form side within touching distance, while Rangers took to the field at Falkirk staring at a 12-point deficit following a dramatic finale to the Edinburgh derby.
News of Motherwell taking the lead didn’t register 30 miles across the country. Either did Celtic’s leveller or late winner. Rangers had far, far bigger issues to worry about at that stage.
Martin’s side sit eighth in the standings with just eight points from seven matches. Remarkably, they have a negative goal difference. The gap to Hearts will only be salvageable if the Jambos collapse. The one to Celtic will only increase if Martin remains in post. Rangers are not in the title race.
Rangers are wretched. Again.
The ball was in the net after four minutes. The offside flag and VAR check that followed ruled out the goal as Djeidi Gassama was denied his second goal in as many matches.
The next chances fell to James Tavernier. A free-kick that was scooped over the target never had Bain worried. A couple of minutes previously, the right-back had popped up in the inside left position and fired just wide of Bain’s near post.
It didn’t look like the goal would come before the break. With just four minutes left of the half, Miovski showed his instincts to be in the right place at the right time and convert from close range. Joe Rothwell had advanced into the final third and Derek Cornelius provided the cross from his left-back berth.
It was a lead that Martin’s side didn’t look like adding to and building on. A harmless effort from Youssef Chermiti with 70 minutes on the clock summed up their endeavours. This is a team that do not create enough chances, never mind score enough goals. That issue, of course, means that they do not win enough games. This was another they didn’t deserve to win.
Brilliant Bairns battle back
The plan of attack – to work the ball wide and test Rangers with crosses into the area – was evident from the early minutes. Before the half hour mark, Falkirk had tried the approach on 17 occasions. Somehow, they had failed to break the deadlock as Rangers looked nervous every time the hosts ventured forward.
Ryan MacIver forced Jack Butland into action after Kyrell Wilson worked his way into the box. Wilson’s follow-up effort was just wide of target. The same fate befell a strike from Ethan Williams.
Falkirk were on the front foot, while Rangers were second to every ball. The fear for the Bairns was what would happen if they didn’t capitalise on their superiority. Once Rangers weathered the storm, they were able to gain a foothold in the fixture and finish the first half in the ascendancy.
Calvin Miller was a constant threat down the left. A teasing ball across the face of goal should have been converted. Liam Henderson’s header was held, while MacIver’s was wide when he really had to hit the target.
Cartwright did just that. He made the opening himself by rolling Mohamed Diomande, advanced into a shooting position as Rangers failed to get close enough and then beat Butland with a wonderful strike full of pace and precision to earn his side a share of the spoils.
Moore must offer more
The opening minutes were bright from Moore and offered hope that what would follow would be different from so much of what has been seen so far in his Rangers career. A ball over the top was collected by the on-loan Tottenham winger and he did well to make space for himself inside the area before his shot was saved by Scott Bain. Gassama converted the rebound, only to see his strike ruled out by the offside flag and then confirmed by a VAR check.
It was a rare moment of ingenuity from Moore as the first half largely passed him by. His use of the ball, and retention of it, was not good enough. Too often, a man that was signed to be a creator in the final third undermined Rangers’ efforts to build as an attacking presence.
His afternoon came to an end an hour in and once again he could have no complaints about the early exit from the action. Oliver Antman was introduced on the right at the same time as Chermiti replaced Miovski. The North Macedonian could be pleased enough with his efforts, but the same could not be said for Moore.
The wide-right berth is an issue – one of many, of course – for Martin right now. Antman has got worse rather than better after an encouraging debut against Viktoria Plzen and Findlay Curtis has become a bit-part member of the squad.
The faith that Martin has in Moore is not shared amongst the support right now. His selection right now is on potential rather than form. Life at Rangers – with all the pressure and the opportunities that come with it – will be good for Moore. How good will Moore be for Rangers?
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