Rangers 2-2 Club Brugge: Gers battle to draw in first friendly of Russell Martin era | Football News
The Rangers fought to draw 2-2 at home against Club Brugge in the first friendly match of Russell Martin pre-season on Sunday.
In front of a crowd of 29,480, the Gers had trouble at the start and were 2-0 to the Belgian finalists last season in the 13 minutes.
But a superb strike from the replacement Mohamed Diomande at the start of the second half gave them a foot before Finlay Curtis ranked in the 89th minute.
The recently appointed manager, Martin, who was warmly applauded by home support when he went to the field during the warm -up, included only one of the five summer signatures in Gers in a captain departure XI by Connor Barron.
Russell Martin speaks with James Tavernier
Bournemouth’s right back on the Max Aarons accommodation started and played an hour while central defender Emmanuel Fernandez arrived for the last 30 minutes after his arrival from Peterborough on a four -year contract this week.
The three other new Rangers recruits, Joe Rothwell, Lyall Cameron and Thelo Aasgaard, did not play any role but were presented at the crowd at halftime.
The attackers Hamza Igamane and Cyriel DESSERS, who were both strongly praised to go in the middle of the interest, were not involved either, while the key defender John Souttar looked at the touch while he recovered from Hernia surgery.
Gers, who has returned to pre-season training for fifteen days, launched their attempt to qualify for the Champions League two weeks on Tuesday when they welcome Panathinaikos during the first leg of their second equal qualification round.
Martin refuses to be drawn on Vardy links
Jamie Vardy left Leicester this summer
Martin refused to be drawn from reports connecting the Rangers to a decision for the former striker of England and Leicester Jamie Vardy.
The 38 -year -old striker, who saw a move to Genoa falling, was now strongly praised for a visit to Ibrox after leaving the foxes at the end of last season.
Martin remained shy but refused to reject the prospect when he was asked if Vardy was a target this summer.
“I think I was asked questions about so many players,” he said. “A few kilometers away, some on money. So, fundamentally, I will not give you an answer on this subject.
“But I guess you will discover who is real and is not in the coming weeks.”
