Martin's mentality mantra soundtracks another Rangers loss

After Rangers' opening-day tie astatine Motherwell, Russell Martin contended that what was undermining his squad was "not really tactical, it's a mentality problem".

That was 2 months ago. Yet erstwhile he said pursuing nan haphazard 2-1 Europa League conclusion connected Thursday, location was a enervating familiarity astir really nan Rangers caput coach explained distant nan outcome.

"It's mentality, not a method aliases tactical problem," Martin said.

Another game, different Groundhog Day for Rangers.

What unfolds connected nan transportation is predictable, while Martin's appraisal has a consciousness of nan inevitable astir it too.

There is thing to beryllium said astir nan slow commencement and shoddy defending that allowed Sturm Graz to return bid of this Europa League necktie that hasn't already been exhausted by players, pundits and punters alike.

The communal denominator is that location is simply a problem astatine Ibrox. The play protests constituent to that. The 5 wins successful 16 games make it moreover much obvious.

So, for really overmuch longer tin Rangers and Martin activity from nan aforesaid book and wish for thing different?

Besides nan mini measurement connected nan roadworthy to betterment that was nan Scottish Premiership triumph astatine Livingston astatine nan weekend, Rangers haven't managed to suffer show of nan starting blocks.

In Austria, they had an opportunity to build a spot of momentum and make a lawsuit for their caput coach, who remains nether immense pressure.

Instead, a mediocre throw-in from James Tavernier was lofted guardant by Dimitri Lavalee, controlled by Maurice Malone, and vanished by Tomi Horvat. Seven minutes had elapsed.

If that was a protect mishap, nan 2nd extremity was a protect calamity.

A precocious statement astatine a heavy free-kick was sliced unfastened pinch 1 delightful daisy-cutter, and a scrambling Jack Butland was near blushing for a 2nd clip successful nan first half.

"Schoolboy stuff," said erstwhile Rangers right-back Alan Hutton.

Two mistakes owed to nan Ibrox side's mentality, according to Martin. Nothing to do pinch their set-up, strategy aliases style.

"The quality from nan first half-hour to nan adjacent 60 minutes was excessively acold isolated really," nan caput coach said. "It's concentration, it's mentality.

"I'm disappointment because we springiness distant 2 mediocre goals, soft goals. We did truthful overmuch activity connected them precocious we were conscionable not alive.

"We wounded ourselves because they didn't create thing from unfastened play. It's hurtful and frustrating."

Rangers hirpled connected until half-time. Then things changed.

Jayden Meghoma and Oliver Antman were swapped for Max Aarons and Bojan Miovski successful what were acold from like-for-like changes.

It meant Derek Cornelius was shunted to left-back, pinch Tavernier astatine centre-back. Eye-popping connected paper, affirmative connected nan pitch.

With a caller lease of life astir them - though not rather nan domination Martin suggested - Djeidi Gassama deservedly hauled 1 backmost for Rangers.

But arsenic has been nan lawsuit truthful often this season, nan architects of their ain downfall didn't effort to retrieve until nan harm was done.

"We were naive and recovered ourselves down astatine 2-0, past we were chasing nan game," Cornelius told TNT Sports.

"We didn't commencement well, I don't cognize what nan problem is. It seems for illustration there's moments wherever everyone is switched connected and tuned successful and past it tin switch, I don't cognize why.

"We can't beryllium accepting of that. We can't beryllium for illustration this. We request to react."

David: Just go. It's conscionable absolute drivel each clip Martin opens his mouth. He must beryllium watching different games to everyone else. Totally delusional.

Steve: There is intelligibly a disconnect betwixt nan head and nan players. If they can't instrumentality elemental strategies specified arsenic really to correctly take sides a throw-in, past thing is severely wrong.

Robert: Martin has to spell earlier this is allowed to get immoderate worse. I don't moreover get amazed anymore astatine Rangers losing, its becoming nan norm. Next location lucifer attendance will beryllium interesting.

Stewart: Real leaders don't blasted their men. For excessively agelong Martin has ignored his very unfastened strategies erstwhile looking astatine a match. He has to leave. Defending is portion of football. He intelligibly does not coach it.

Sandra: What connected world was that waffle successful nan post-match interview? Dreadful and wholly demoralising.