Whereas a number of new faces have arrived at Rangers on the daybreak of a brand new period, Russell Martin has regularly reiterated his openness to be stunned by members of the squad he inherited.
It might be honest to imagine Findlay Curtis information into that class after {the teenager} was trusted to begin on the left of Martin’s assault in his first aggressive match accountable for the Ibrox membership.
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The primary leg of the Champions League second-round qualifier towards Panathinaikos was only a sixth Rangers look for the 18-year-old. It was solely his second begin.
“He has the athleticism and expertise to play in his staff for positive, however he additionally has the character,” Martin defined pre-match.
With Rangers trying nervy and weak for almost all of a primary half Martin described as “uncomfortable”, Curtis eased rising rigidity by demanding the ball, driving inside, and unleashing a shocking strike to ignite Martin’s reign.
A primary objective in senior soccer, it was a second that swung momentum and had former Rangers extensive males waxing lyrical.
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“Good, son. He is a cool cat this child, I let you know,” ex-Ibrox winger and coach Neil McCann stated on Premier Sports activities. “That is a improbable end, I really like that,” was the view of Peter Lovenkrands on BBC Sportsound.
Martin’s Rangers ‘removed from completed article’
Martin stated Curtis “had some robust moments” within the opening half, however on his first begin on the European stage, the teen responded to nearly single-handedly shift the temper and the course of the sport at Ibrox.
Six minutes after opening the scoring, one other delicate contact and driving run from {the teenager} resulted in Panathinaikos’ Georgios Vagiannidis choosing up a second yellow card.
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That sending off allowed Rangers to take management of a contest that was overwhelming them within the opening interval, and Curtis’ substitute, Djeidi Gassama, sealed a significant two-goal first-leg win with one other superb strike.
“We anticipated it to be robust, they’re a extremely good staff,” Martin advised BBC Scotland. “We had some uncomfortable moments within the first half.
“We have been removed from the completed article, however the gamers confirmed character and a willingness to battle and to run for one another. And, as the sport went on, they began to take care of the ball higher.”
‘Good consequence would not inform full story of match’
In a troublesome opening interval, Curtis was not alone in toiling. After a vibrant opening couple of minutes, Rangers ceased any management by regularly giving up possession because the guests spurned a number of probabilities.
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Panathinaikos aspect had managed 22 touches within the opposition field on the interval, whereas Rangers have been on simply six.
The hosts had goalkeeper Jack Butland, restored to the beginning line-up after being dropped on the finish of final season, to thank for not less than three wonderful saves.
Martin hailed Butland as an “excellent goalkeeper” earlier than difficult his gamers to method subsequent week’s second leg, which might be proven stay on the BBC, with “the identical mentality and the identical willingness to run and extra”.
Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson expressed warning regardless of a “good” first-leg consequence.
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“Perhaps [the result] would not inform the complete story of the match,” he added on BBC Sportsound. “Till the sending off, Panathinaikos have been properly within the recreation.
“Rangers have put themselves in a fantastic place, nevertheless it’s not over but. European soccer is troublesome and Panathinaikos will really feel they’ve one thing to show.”
Have your say
What did you make of Rangers’ show in Martin’s aggressive debut?
What did you consider Curtis’ efficiency and Gassama’s impression? And what about Butland’s response to returning to the aspect?
