Russell Martin Under Pressure at Rangers After Dundee Draw
Russell Martin may already need to rethink his approach at Rangers following another disappointing result in the Scottish Premiership. The Gers were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday (9 August), failing to replicate their strong European form in domestic competition.
Despite a dominant 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League qualifiers, Rangers struggled against Steven Pressley’s side. Ryan Astley put Dundee ahead in the 51st minute, and it took a stoppage-time penalty from James Tavernier to salvage a point for the Light Blues.
While European progress seems promising, Martin must address his tactical decisions—particularly regarding Max Aarons, whose performances have raised questions.
Is Max Aarons Really an Upgrade Over Tavernier?
Keith Jackson of the Daily Record (11 August) argues that Martin risks “self-delusion” if he believes Aarons is a better option than Tavernier. The Bournemouth loanee has been unimpressive in his five appearances so far, struggling at both right-back and left-back.
Jackson writes: “If Martin genuinely sees Aarons as an upgrade on Tavernier, he’s dangerously mistaken. Aarons has started all five games under the new boss without standing out. His tendency to recycle possession backwards may boost Martin’s passing stats, but it does little to advance play into dangerous areas.”
He adds that persisting with Aarons could make Martin appear “bloody-minded and stubborn,” especially given Tavernier’s proven contributions.
Could Martin’s Job Be at Risk?
With Rangers already four points behind Celtic, pressure is mounting. If results don’t improve quickly, Martin’s position could be under threat before the season progresses much further.
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic may have had a quiet transfer window, but they remain strong, while Rangers’ early struggles—including benching key players like Nico Raskin—have frustrated fans. If the gap widens after the Old Firm derby, Martin’s tenure could be in jeopardy by Christmas.
Match Stats (via FotMob):
- Possession: Rangers 76% – 24% Dundee
- xG: Rangers 2.0 – 0.35 Dundee
- Total Shots: Rangers 20 – 7 Dundee
- Big Chances Missed: Rangers 0 – 1 Dundee
With Raskin reportedly unsettled due to limited minutes and Tavernier’s recent omission raising eyebrows, Martin must act fast to avoid a premature exit from Ibrox.
