The former Southampton manager was taken aback to the reaction from the crowd to a second half substitution in the 1-1 draw with Dundee

21:26, 09 Aug 2025Updated 21:38, 09 Aug 2025

Kieran Dowell appeared as a second half substitute(Image: SNS Group)

Russell Martin warned furious fans his Rangers rebuild won’t be a quick fix or without pain after his side shipped more Premiership points to struggling Dundee.

Martin’s side – reduced to 10 men after Nasser Djiga’s 59th minute red card – were booed off after suffering another domestic shocker a week on from the opening day draw at Motherwell.

Sub James Tavernier’s 92nd minute penalty rescued a little-deserved point after Ryan Astley’s 51st minute header looked to have Dundee on course for a first win at Ibrox since 2001. But Martin’s men ran the gauntlet of their own fans at full time ahead of Tuesday’s Champions league qualifier away to Viktoria Plzen.

The manager said he understood the fans’ reaction at full time – but was less impressed with the punters jeering the 56th minute introduction of Kieran Dowell. Martin said: “It’s a bit of pain and when you get through that pain, it’s so worth it. I don’t think I expected anything less coming here, it’s not going to be a quick fix.

“This club has not had success for a long, long time. I’ve been asked about the supporters’ reaction and I just don’t have a problem because I understand it.

“We are at a point now at this club where something needed to change. The ownership has changed, there’s a new coaching staff, there’s new players.

“There’s hopefully a new way of behaving in the training ground – properly every single day, regarding standards and what’s expected at this football club.

Kieran Dowell(Image: SNS Group)

“So it’s not a quick fix and this is not me coming out and making excuses. I think we change the manager from year to year and nothing really changes.

“So now it’s about really changing the culture and the feel of the club day in and day out.

“That will end up in a good outcome. Good process, good people, will always end up in a good outcome. But maybe not so quickly as everyone wants.

“But this year we’ll be ready to compete, we’ll be ready to win a lot. The culture of the group is changing. And we have to change it as quickly as we possibly can.”

Martin filleted his side after last week’s draw at Fir Park. But he refused to stick the knife in for a second week. He said: “We need to tackle, try to penetrate a bit more, a few more runs, put it in the box more. We didn’t see that really until we went down to 10 men.

“Then there was a real intent to go forward, play forward, run forward, react properly to losing the ball.

“I think Nico Raskin tackled more when he came on for the last half hour than the whole team in the first 60 minutes. The lack of aggression comes from a bit of tension. It’s not a question about the lads’ mentality today.

Russell Martin(Image: Pete Summers/Shutterstock)

“They only had a few set plays and we have to do much better. That’s about being really switched on, being really aggressive.”

Dowell’s introduction for Mohamed Diomande in the 56th minute brought howls of derision from the home stands – aimed at the player and the manager.

But Martin said: “That surprised me. I’m not on any social media or anything like that, so I don’t really know what the narrative is around Kieran. I don’t think it helps him, I don’t think it helps the rest of the guys. That’s how I feel about it really.

“I’m disappointed for Kieran, because what we’ve seen at the training ground and I speak to everyone there, he’s really valued as a person and a character. And he’s played out of position for us for three games.

“He’s a really good footballer, so I don’t know what’s gone on before. We’re just judging everyone off a clean slate.

“He tries, trains like an absolute beast, which I don’t think some people have come to this club and been bought for a lot of money and I don’t think they have done that.

“He did a good job for us because we trust him to bring a certain level of intelligence out of position and he’ll want to help his team.

“Especially with that reaction, that takes some character and personality. I hope Kieran gets a chance to show what he can do.”