RUSSELL MARTIN believes his Rangers players will benefit from the experience of this afternoon’s pre-season draw against Club Brugge at Ibrox.
The Gers rallied from a two-goal deficit to secure a share of the spoils as second-half strikes from Mohamed Diomande and Findlay Curtis hauled the hosts back on level terms.
It was a Rangers side subjected to a raft of changes throughout the 90 minutes as Martin looked to build his players’ minutes at this early stage in pre-season, with Curtis, who struck the leveller two minutes from time, the only player who lasted 90 minutes.
Speaking to RangersTV after the match, the Gers boss commented: “It was very good opposition. It will really help prepare us to get better and we will learn a lot from today.
“It was nice to walk out at Ibrox with the team. I got a great reception which I’m incredibly grateful for when I walked out for the warm-up.
“The first half, we started okay then conceded a goal. What was interesting, and we’ll learn a lot, is that the habits we’re trying to instil changed a little bit and the team didn’t quite look how we wanted it to, and they managed to gain a bit of momentum again.
“The players are under such heavy loads – they’re fatigued and tired – and they’ve taken on so much detail, so there’s a bit of overthinking in that first-half period.
“We weren’t quite all in and we were sort of in-between, but we need to be all-in at this football club with the way that we want to play and run.
“I was really impressed with the guys in the second half; the energy and aggression ramped up a notch.
"We weren’t aggressive enough in the first half with and without the ball, and I’ll give the players the benefit of the doubt because they’re tired and we had a few guys playing who have only been back a few days.
“I really enjoyed the energy of the team in the second half and just how front-footed we were.”
The Belgian visitors struck twice inside two minutes in the first half to open up a commanding lead in the contest.
However, the second half changes from Martin, which included the introductions of Mohamed Diomande, Nedim Bajrami and several Academy players, injected a new lease of life into the Light Blues.
Martin conceded before the game that his squad were playing under significant fatigue after a heavy training load this week, yet he couldn’t hide his pride at one particular aspect of their performance at this early juncture of his tenure.
He added: “I like the fact that they were trying things. There is a lot to work on and improve; we’ll learn so much from today and it will definitely make us better.
“But I liked some of the performances; the willingness to run, work and take the ball.
“Some of the young guys done really great. I’m really happy for them; Josh Gentles did great when he came on and Findlay Curtis took his goal so well.
“The energy of [Mohamed] Diomande and [Nedim] Bajrami, in particular, in the second half was really enjoyable and it helped the team a lot.
“I’m pleased that we got through it unscathed and with no injuries. They’re trying so hard to do what we’re asking them to do.
“At the minute they need to overthink that, but soon it will become second nature and habit. I said to them that when they’re in flight it will become like breathing and walking.
“But they’re willing to try it and do it and that’s all you can ask.”
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