Russell Martin under fire again as Falkirk hold Rangers

Russell Martin’s future as Rangers boss was plunged into fresh doubt after his side let slip the lead to draw 1-1 with newly-promoted Falkirk.

Gers wide man Djeidi Gassama had a goal ruled out for offside after four minutes and striker Bojan Miovski tapped in after 41 minutes but in between it was another desperate performance as the newly-promoted Bairns bossed the first half.

John McGlynn’s side carried the game to the lacklustre Ibrox side after the break and deservedly levelled in the 73rd minute through a 20-yard strike from substitute Henry Cartwright, his first for the Bairns since signing on loan from Leicester.

Disgruntled Gers fans again bombarded their boss with vitriol and many supporters have long since given up on the former Southampton manager following a disastrous start to his tenure which now shows five wins in 17 matches, including defeats in the opening two Europa League games to Genk and Sturm Graz.

The Ibrox side ended the day 11 points behind William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts and nine behind Celtic with only seven fixtures played and Martin will do well to withstand the fall-out from this latest performance.

Rangers fans again needed picking up following the European defeat to Sturm Graz on Thursday night but the 900 or so travelling fans took the time before the game to chant for Martin to leave the club, and repeated it intermittently.

It was another shaky start by the visitors but Gassama had the ball in the Falkirk net in their first real attack, only for Mikey Moore to be ruled offside in the build-up.

Falkirk looked at ease on their artificial surface and in the 16th minute Gers keeper Jack Butland brilliantly saved a close-range flick from home striker Ross MacIver before Swansea loanee Kyrell Wilson, making his first start, fired the loose ball wide.

Then, after Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin lost possession at the edge of the box as another attempt to build play broke down, Ethan Williams dragged a shot a yard wide.

However, four minutes from the break, in a rare moment of Ibrox danger, Derek Cornelius’ cross from the left was met at the back post by Miovski who slid the ball into the net – and again the Gers fans almost immediately turned their ire on Martin.

McGlynn’s men started the second half on the front foot but could not get all the way through to Butland, although in the 66th minute MacIver leapt high at the back post to connect with an inviting cross from substitute Alfredo Agyeman but missed the target.

However, when Cartwright surged forward after brushing off Gers substitute Mohamed Diomande, the Bairns fans urged him to shoot and the 20-year-old midfielder duly obliged, his powerful drive appearing to take a nick off defender John Souttar and flying behind Butland.

Rangers have not kept a clean sheet away from home since a 3-0 win over Ross County in December 2024 – a run of 24 games – and it is just one of the statistics that is making Martin’s tenure untenable.

Butland saved from another Falkirk substitute, Brian Graham, in the 88th minute, to prevent defeat but it will surely not be enough to stem the tide for Martin.