Rangers manager Russell Martin is under even more pressure nowCredit: PA<\/p>\n
It proved to be another haunting encounter against a side from the Jupiler Pro League.<\/p>\n
As was the case a month ago, Rangers<\/a> were reduced to ten men thanks to a crazy red card.<\/p>\n Following Mohamed Diomade\u2019s dismissal shortly before half-time, Gers\u2019 chances never fully recovered.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more Rangers stories\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t MISSING OUT<\/p>\n Hampden to have 1000 EMPTY seats for Old Firm Premier Sports Cup semi-final tie<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t TOTE’S WORTH IT<\/p>\n Get \u00a340 in free bets and bonuses when you stake \u00a310 on football with Tote<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n To add insult to injury, it was a former Celtic<\/a> player, Hyeon-gyu Oh, who struck the winner.<\/p>\n The final whistle brought more booing from the Rangers support, coupled with the now weekly chant of \u201cMartin, Martin Get To F***.\u201d<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s vital Premier Sports Cup win over Hibs<\/a> had bought the under-fire Gers boss some time.<\/p>\n It also delivered breathing space for a squad of players who\u2019d been gasping for air.<\/p>\n But progress in the cup will count for nothing if Rangers don\u2019t kick on in Europe and in the league.<\/p>\n The victory which helped set up an Old Firm semi-final at Hampden had to act as a catalyst.<\/p>\n Ahead of this one, Gers knew they had to build momentum and piece together a run of results ahead of the next international break.<\/p>\n The run \u2013 which will take in trips to Livingston, Sturm Graz and Falkirk \u2013 began with a home clash against Genk in the Europa League.<\/p>\n The Light Blues arrived here via a humiliating 9-1 aggregate Champions League play-off loss to Brugge.<\/p>\n In his pre-match press conference, Martin vowed his players would never again feel as low as they did that night.<\/p>\n Genk\u2019s start to the domestic season has mirrored Rangers\u2019 struggles with Thorsten Fink\u2019s side languishing third from bottom.<\/p>\n Oh was tasked with leading the line for the visitors.<\/p>\n For Gers, Martin made one change to the side which started against Hibs with Youssef Chermiti<\/a> coming in for his first start.<\/p>\n That meant Bojan Miovski dropped back to the bench with Nico Raskin continuing in midfield.<\/p>\n Just like the weekend, Ibrox wasn\u2019t full.<\/p>\n On these special European nights, that\u2019s unheard of.<\/p>\n It only served to underline the distance Martin still has to travel on the long road to redemption.<\/p>\n The same can be said for Diomande who left his teammates with a mountain to climb.<\/p>\n Five minutes from the break, his over the ball lunge on Zakaria El Ouahdi resulted in a straight red card.<\/p>\n It was wild, it was reckless and he could have no complaints.<\/p>\n Neither could James Tavernier<\/a> when, after a lengthy VAR review, Slovenian ref Matej Jug awarded the visitors a penalty in first half stoppage time.<\/p>\n The Gers skipper \u2013 who\u2019d seen his own appeals for a penalty rejected by VAR moments earlier \u2013 clipped Yaimar Medina after he\u2019d got in behind.<\/p>\n Jack Butland<\/a> held his nerve and produced a stunning save to deny Oh.<\/p>\n The former Hoops star was having a miserable night all told.<\/p>\n With 18 minutes gone, he blazed over the bar from just six yards out \u2013 much to the delight of the home support.<\/p>\n Yet time and again, the Gers defence had been carved wide open.<\/p>\n Bryan Heynen\u2019s pass sent El Ouahdi scampering clear after just five minutes.<\/p>\n The Genk star elected to check back inside, allowing Jayden Meghoma<\/a> to recover.<\/p>\n On the rebound, Oh failed to hit the target.<\/p>\n El Ouahdi \u2013 with four goals already this season \u2013 slid in again at the back post, but once more he couldn\u2019t steer the ball on target.<\/p>\n Mickey Moore floated an effort over the bar as Rangers threatened Genk\u2019s goal for the first time.<\/p>\n After some terrific build up play by Djeidi Gassama<\/a>, Raskin dragged an effort inches past.<\/p>\n Then a spectacular goalline clearance by Heynen denied Souttar, although the ref had blown for a foul in the build up.<\/p>\n At the other end, Genk continued to look more likely with Patrik Hro\u0161ovsk\u00fd twisting and turning before firing a shot off the base of Butland\u2019s left hand post.<\/p>\n Derek Cornelius did extremely well to snuff out Oh who looked certain to score.<\/p>\n Ibrox was becoming restless when a Tavernier header clearly came back off the arm of Joris Kayembe.<\/p>\n VAR finally intervened, but only to award a foul against the Rangers captain for an alleged push in the back of the Genk defender.<\/p>\n It was such a harsh call.<\/p>\n Butland\u2019s penalty save was the last action of a frantic first half with Martin\u2019s side now facing up to the second 45 with ten men.<\/p>\n Oliver Antman was introduced at the break with Moore making way.<\/p>\n Four minutes into the restart, Rangers somehow survived an almighty goal mouth scramble with Butland producing two fine saves.<\/p>\n Oh\u2019s woes continued when he missed yet another glorious chance with 51 minutes gone.<\/p>\n At this point, Genk boss Fink must have been considering a change.<\/p>\n But Oh had other ideas.<\/p>\n With 55 minutes on the clock, Jarne Steuckers split the Rangers defence wide open again.<\/p>\n This time Oh held his nerve to bury the ball in the bottom corner.<\/p>\n Martin\u2019s men only had themselves to blame.<\/p>\n By the law of averages if you continue to present any striker with chances, eventually they will score.<\/p>\n With a little over 20 minutes left, the South Korean had the ball in the net for a second time, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more on the Scottish Sun\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t SIR QUIZZED<\/p>\n Scots teacher quizzed by cops over Loch Lomond death riddle<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t ‘NEVER SPEAK AGAIN’<\/p>\n Rangers hero John Brown lifts lid on 10-year feud with ex-Celtic star<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n Rangers were on the ropes.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/glasgow-celtic-fc-glasgow-rangers-965573528.jpg\"\/)
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