The more things change, the more they stay the same. Rangers had a different face in the dugout but the failings were familiar. In the first match since Russell Martin's sacking, interim boss Steven Smith saw Rangers drop more Premiership points.
Thelo Aasgaard gave Rangers a deserved lead at the interval as a fine individual effort broke the deadlock. The advantage could, and perhaps should, have been greater. There were no boos at the break this time around. They would come later.
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Ibrox was stunned midway through the second period when Kristijan Trapanovski found the corner of the net from distance. Out of nowhere, Jim Goodwin's side were level. Craig Sibbald completed the comeback with a terrific strike from distance. A James Tavernier strike earned Rangers a point.
An afternoon that encapsulates the issues
They say a week is a long time in football. The fortnight since Martin’s departure has felt like a lifetime for those who follow this club. Nothing, it seems, is ever straightforward for Rangers.
The sacking of Martin came too late. The process to appoint his successor went on for too long. Indeed, there is still no official confirmation that Kevin Muscat will be the next man to hold what looks like a poisoned chalice.
There is also no date for him to get down to business at Ibrox. On Friday morning, Muscat took another step towards the Chinese Super League title with Shanghai Port. On Saturday afternoon, Rangers saw their own silverware ambitions suffer a blow that could well be fatal. One win in eight is the form of relegation battlers, not title challengers.
The process to bring Steven Gerrard back to Ibrox was botched. Somehow, Rangers now find themselves in the situation – entirely of their own making – where a manager that was overlooked in October 2023 and May 2025 is working thousands of miles away when he is needed in Glasgow. Bonkers? You bet. But that seems to be the norm at this club these days.
The Premiership has effectively been written off by the decision makers. A defeat on Thursday night would spell the end of their Europa League ambitions too. And the first shot at silverware? That rests on an Old Firm showdown at Hampden that could well be overseen by an interim management team.
A collection of eight points from seven matches was the worst league start since 1978/79. Rangers now sit sixth in the Premiership. This was two points dropped, not one gained. A day that should have been the start of the recovery, the big push forward under new management, was more of the same. It is so, so far from acceptable. Or at least it should be.
Smith can’t get Rangers over the line
The message pre-match from Smith was for his players to ‘be brave, take responsibility’. He urged them to seize the moment and the chance to start building some momentum.
Smith had been put in an unenviable position, but also a prestigious one. The chance to stand on the touchline as Rangers manager meant a lot to him. He has served this club for the majority of his life, as well as his professional career and he answered the call of duty.
A week ago, Smith was in charge of his Under-19 side as they lost to Dumbarton. Here, he emerged from the tunnel dressed in his black tracksuit rather than a shirt and tie. His existence as boss is very much a day-to-day affair and it remains to be seen if he will be in charge when Rangers head to Norway next week.
Smith was front and centre throughout, occasionally joined by coach Brian Gilmour. He had promised to simplify the instructions given to his players and the approach paid dividends. Well, it did for 45 minutes. Rangers did not overplay and overcomplicate. Instead, the team with the best players played the better football.
The tables turned and momentum shifted after the break. Smith introduced Youssef Chermiti at 2-1 down in an attempt to try and rescue the situation. Findlay Curtis, Mikey Moore and Connor Barron followed but time was against Rangers by that stage.
Smith got the point that, on the balance, he deserved. It was not the three that he came for and that he wanted. It was not the result or performance that Rangers needed.
Flashes of promise before familiar failings
Where has this been for the last four months? The question relates to Rangers as a collective as well as the individual that broke the deadlock. It was a moment that Aasgaard was signed to produce but has rarely looked like doing so. Two players were beaten as the Norwegian burst into the box before the ball was shifted to the right and dispatched into the far corner with power and precision.
The goal had been coming for Rangers, even if the earlier chances – a John Souttar header and strike from Tavernier – didn’t force Yevheni Kucherenko into action. Aasgaard had fired wide of target in that spell of pressure, too. He later brought a smart save from Kucherenko as Rangers looked to double their advantage.
The next block from the United keeper to deny Aasgaard was even better. Bojan Miovski headed over and Oliver Antman – a rejuvenated presence on the right – was thwarted. Rangers ended the half frustrated that their advantage was only a single goal.
The ball was moved quicker, the passing was more purposeful. It was night and day. It further emphasised just what an utter mess Martin’s tenure was.
It was, though, only 45 minutes. The second half was insipid rather than inspired. Rangers should have been easing over the line. Instead, they were left frantically trying to rescue a point. Tavernier earned them that with a fine finish that was in between Kucherenko and his left-hand post.
United almost earn Ibrox victory
The visitors must have been cursing the fixture schedule over the last fortnight. Had this match been played before the break, and before Martin’s sacking, then Goodwin and his players would have rightly fancied their chances. They could have turned the Ibrox crowd, piled on the pressure and asked questions about a team that has many, many to answer.
The situation changed on Martin’s dismissal, though. Yes, Rangers may not have been under the guidance of their new boss but Smith’s promotion on an interim basis brought freshness to Rangers. The task for United was, therefore, a difficult one.
Ivan Dolcek almost gave them the perfect start as he fired wide early on. Later in the half, he couldn’t quite get the better of Tavernier after collecting a ball over the top. United were not able to cause Rangers the problems that so many teams have over recent times.
The first half ended with United having two shots and none on target. Rangers had five on target, but 24 in total. United were limited in their possession. When they did have it, not enough was done with it.
That changed on 67 minutes. Trapanovski was only on the field a matter of moments when he made his impact. A low effort from the edge of the area beat Jack Butland low to his right.
It soon got even better. Zach Sapsford was denied by Butland but United kept the pressure on and the ball fell to Sibbald. The strike from distance was a touch of class. A flurry of late chances - the best of which fell to Trapanovski - was passed up as three points were missed out on.
The boos are back in the stands
The fingers of blame have been pointed in many directions over recent months. Supporters got their wish when Martin was sacked and still have Patrick Stewart, the chief executive officer, and sporting director Kevin Thelwell in their sights. At half-time, a message in the Sandy Jardine Stand read: ‘Stewart, Thelwell pack your bags and go before we pack them for you’ was unfurled. The Union Bears chanted against the CEO in the second period.
The banner displaying Stewart’s face was visible in the crowd before a ball was kicked. Through all the accusations and recriminations, the players have largely escaped the fiercest comment and criticism. In the opening exchanges, a message from the Union Bears read: ‘No more buses to hide on. No more managers to hide behind. Face your failures like men.’
The aftermath of the opening goal saw the crowd offer a period of backing to those on the pitch as the decibel levels rose. That prospect has always been there this season. If the team holds up their end of the bargain, the crowd will go with them.
At the whistle, the boos were back. They were half-hearted on this occasion. The fans know just where Rangers are and fear where they are heading.
Every player in this squad is playing for their futures. Ultimately, it is up to them to prove that they can handle the pressure of playing here. Muscat is now the man that will determine their futures.
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