Kieran Dowell accuses Rangers of sleepwalking as home truths hurt in fight to rescue Ibrox career
Kieran Dowell says Rangers' Fir Park flops deserved their Russell Martin rollicking.
And the midfielder admits certain Ibrox stars are fighting for their futures after a wake-up call at Motherwell.
Gers slipped up on the opening day of the Premiership season for the third consecutive year on Saturday with a 1-1 draw against The Steelmen.
After leading through James Tavernier's header, they produced an insipid display and the home side got a deserved late equaliser through Emmanuel Longelo.
Afterwards, Martin slated his players' attitudes - accusing them of being ego-driven and slipping into 'self-preservation' mode.
He warned those who don't want to work for him that they'll be left behind.
Dowell, who is having a Rangers revival under the new boss after it looked like his days at Ibrox were numbered, says the flak was justified.
The 27-year-old believes the dressing-down was needed because players have failed under different managers prior to Martin's arrival.
When asked if Martin's criticism was tough to hear, Dowell said: 'Yeah, but it was a few home truths. We had a good start to the game and didn't put it to bed.
'We almost sleep-walked into conceding that equaliser and probably deserved it in the end.
'Do the players have a lot to prove? 100 percent. Look, obviously it hasn't been the most successful period for the club and that's down to us as players.
'We've had a few managers now and it's up to us to prove it if we want to be at this club moving forward. Saturday was a big blow for the players, it's a reality check for us.'
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here.
Listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Djeidi Gassama brace puts much-changed Rangers in control against Viktoria Plzen
The Gers boss hit out at some of his squad following their deflating 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Saturday, questioning mentality, egos and application, and captain James Tavernier and midfielder Nicolas Raskin were the biggest names among the expected changes. Martin got the required reaction as winger Djeidi Gassama scored after 15 minutes with his third European goal in three ties before returning striker Cyriel Dessers added a second from the spot just before the interval. Djeidi Gassama, centre, and Cyriel Dessers scored the Rangers goals (Andrew Milligan/PA) Gassama, signed this summer from Sheffield Wednesday, scored a third in the 51st minute to put the Govan side into a commanding lead and eventually a comfortable win. The Light Blues will be heavy favourites for the return game in the Czech Republic next Tuesday, with a play-off tie against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaiting the winners. After pointing the finger at his under-performers at the weekend, all eyes were on Martin's team selection and he made significant changes. Along with Tavernier and Raskin – arguably Gers' best player last season – Danilo and Kieran Dowell were left out. New signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, made his debut – and was terrific – with left-back Jefte, midfielder Lyall Cameron and Dessers returning while John Souttar was named captain. Russell Martin rang the changes (Andrew Milligan/PA) The Ibrox crowd was more subdued than usual on a big European night, initially. In the seventh minute Plzen's lofty striker Rafiu Durosinmi headed a cross from Amar Memic past the post but it was Gassama who struck first, playing a one-two with Dessers at the edge of the visitors' box before confidently curling the ball past keeper Florian Wiegele. After Gers defender Nasser Djiga brilliantly blocked a goal-bound shot from visiting captain Matej Vydra, Antman's drive from a Gassama cut-back at the other end was cleared off the line by Vaclav Jamelka. Bizarrely Raskin, warming up on the sidelines, was booked by French referee Clement Turpin for apparently trying to interfere at a Plzen throw-in as the Czech side began to exert some pressure. However, when a driving run into the box by Antman ended with him being barged over by Vydra, referee Turpin pointed to the spot for a soft penalty and Dessers sent Wiegele the wrong way. The impressive Oliver Antman wins the penalty for Rangers's second goal (Andrew Milligan/PA) Rangers started the second half strongly and within three minutes midfielder Mohamed Diomande struck the bar with an effort from the edge of the box. However, the third soon arrived as Gassama grabbed his second when he bulleted in a header from a pinpoint Antman cross from the right. There were occasional moments of sloppiness in the Gers ranks throughout the rest of the second half but they remained unpunished. Raskin, Danilo, and Tavernier all came off the bench when the job was done, before in the 83rd minute Gers keeper Jack Butland made a good save from a powerful drive from Memic. After the negativity of Fir Park, it was a more positive performance from the home side although there has to be much more to come from Martin's men.
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Russell Martin hails Rangers response as much-changed side hammer Viktoria Plzen
The Gers boss hit out at some of his squad following their deflating 1-1 draw at Fir Park on Saturday and Tavernier, midfielder Nicolas Raskin, attacker Kieran Dowell and striker Danilo were left out. New signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, made his debut – and was terrific – with left-back Jefte, midfielder Lyall Cameron and striker Cyriel Dessers returning while John Souttar was named captain. Oliver Antman, right, impressed on debut (Andrew Milligan/PA) Winger Djeidi Gassama scored after 14 minutes, Dessers added a second from the spot just before the interval and summer signing Gassama's fourth goal in three European ties put the Govan side into a commanding lead for the return leg of the Champions League third qualifier next week. Boss Martin said: 'I really enjoyed it. I'm proud of the guys. 'We had a really difficult afternoon/evening on Saturday, just because there was not enough running in behind, aggression, intensity with the ball. 'We were not just ranting and raving, we showed a lot of clips and we tried to do a lot of learning in the meeting room and on the pitch in the last couple of days and they took it on brilliantly. 'The guys that came in the team were fantastic. We're going to need everyone. 'You don't get dropped from this team, people come in and out quite a lot because we need to be fresh. 'So it's not easy to leave people out. But the guys that came out of the team came on and did brilliantly as well. So I'm pleased. James Tavernier was a second-half substitute (Andrew Milligan/PA) 'The thing I'm annoyed about is the last 15 minutes, we probably dropped a bit of intensity, but it's understandable with the schedule we've had.' Martin claimed Tavernier was understanding of Martin's decision to leave him on the sidelines. He said: 'Yeah, yeah, he was great – all the guys. 'I say my piece, if they have a piece to say, then it's really respectful and really honest. 'But I think the way he played when he came on showed you everything you need to know. So there's been no problem and I don't envisage there being any problems moving forward. 'Dani and Dowell came out as well, and no one person's harder than the other in terms of conversation. Russell Martin celebrates victory with his Rangers players (Andrew Milligan/PA) 'It's not easy when you care about the players and you're desperate for them to do well, it's not an easy conversation ever. 'I'm just always honest with them, why they're coming out, why I pick someone else, and they just don't have to agree at all, but hopefully they respect a bit of honesty. 'And I think their reaction when they came on the pitch tonight says everything, they were great.'
Powys County Times
3 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Russell Martin hails Rangers response as much-changed side hammer Viktoria Plzen
Russell Martin got the Rangers reaction he wanted in the 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox but insists captain James Tavernier was not dropped from the side which underperformed at Motherwell. The Gers boss hit out at some of his squad following their deflating 1-1 draw at Fir Park on Saturday and Tavernier, midfielder Nicolas Raskin, attacker Kieran Dowell and striker Danilo were left out. New signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, made his debut – and was terrific – with left-back Jefte, midfielder Lyall Cameron and striker Cyriel Dessers returning while John Souttar was named captain. Winger Djeidi Gassama scored after 14 minutes, Dessers added a second from the spot just before the interval and summer signing Gassama's fourth goal in three European ties put the Govan side into a commanding lead for the return leg of the Champions League third qualifier next week. Boss Martin said: 'I really enjoyed it. I'm proud of the guys. 'We had a really difficult afternoon/evening on Saturday, just because there was not enough running in behind, aggression, intensity with the ball. 'We were not just ranting and raving, we showed a lot of clips and we tried to do a lot of learning in the meeting room and on the pitch in the last couple of days and they took it on brilliantly. 'The guys that came in the team were fantastic. We're going to need everyone. 'You don't get dropped from this team, people come in and out quite a lot because we need to be fresh. 'So it's not easy to leave people out. But the guys that came out of the team came on and did brilliantly as well. So I'm pleased. 'The thing I'm annoyed about is the last 15 minutes, we probably dropped a bit of intensity, but it's understandable with the schedule we've had.' Martin claimed Tavernier was understanding of Martin's decision to leave him on the sidelines. He said: 'Yeah, yeah, he was great – all the guys. 'I say my piece, if they have a piece to say, then it's really respectful and really honest. 'But I think the way he played when he came on showed you everything you need to know. So there's been no problem and I don't envisage there being any problems moving forward. 'Dani and Dowell came out as well, and no one person's harder than the other in terms of conversation. 'It's not easy when you care about the players and you're desperate for them to do well, it's not an easy conversation ever. 'I'm just always honest with them, why they're coming out, why I pick someone else, and they just don't have to agree at all, but hopefully they respect a bit of honesty. 'And I think their reaction when they came on the pitch tonight says everything, they were great.'
