Rangers were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday, despite mounting a late fightback after going a goal and a man down. The result extends a turbulent start to Russell Martin’s tenure, with the Glasgow side now without a win in their opening two league matches for the first time since 1989.
The hosts entered the match on a high after their 3-0 midweek victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League qualifiers, having also seen off Panathinaikos in the previous round. However, their domestic form has faltered, leaving supporters visibly frustrated at full-time. Martin acknowledged the fans’ disappointment but urged patience, promising improvement in the weeks ahead.
Dundee, under new boss Steven Pressley, looked poised to claim a memorable win when Ryan Astley’s looping header put them ahead early in the second half. Rangers’ woes deepened when Nasser Djiga was shown a straight red card for denying a clear scoring chance.
However, the ten men rallied in stoppage time. Djeidi Gassama was brought down in the box, and captain James Tavernier — starting on the bench for a second straight game — converted the resulting penalty. Cyriel Dessers appeared to snatch all three points moments later, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Pressley praised his players’ effort and commitment, admitting he felt heartbroken for them after they left “every last ounce” on the pitch. The draw leaves Celtic with the opportunity to move four points ahead of Rangers if they beat Aberdeen on Sunday.
Elsewhere in the league, Livingston defeated Falkirk 3-1 in a clash of newly-promoted sides, while Motherwell and St Mirren played out a goalless draw.
