Rangers’ Jekyll and Hyde start under Russell Martin continued as they needed a late penalty to rescue a draw at home to Dundee, just days after impressing in Europe.
The head coach stuck with the same starting XI that beat Viktoria Plzen in Champions League qualifying, but while they dominated, the same energy was not on show.
Dundee, out of the League Cup and defeated in their opening Premiership match, had the best chances and stunned Ibrox into silence just after the break when Ryan Astley headed into the net.
Frustrations began to show and Nasser Djiga was shown a straight red card for bringing down Fin Robertson as he raced towards goal.
Rangers struggled for creativity, but James Tavernier scored from the penalty spot late on after Drey Wright’s challenge on Djedi Gassama.
Cyriel Dessers thought he’d snatched victory in the final seconds but the offside flag handed Dundee a deserved point.
It is the first time Rangers have failed to win their opening two league games since 1989, as the attention now turns to progressing to the Champions League play-offs.
Rangers’ struggle for form continues as Dundee impress
It was a frustrating watch for Rangers head coach Russell Martin
Dundee’s defending was diligent and they almost stole into the lead on the half hour following a corner, when Luke Graham found Clark Robertson with a cross and his header crashed off the post before Gers ‘keeper Jack Butland gathered the ball.
The home side looked nervy when asked to defend and Robertson again glanced a header off a post but the offside flag was up, as were the anxiety levels among the home fans.
Gassama’s trickery inside the box early in the second half allowed him to set up midfielder Mohamed Diomande but his shot was saved by Dundee keeper Jon McCracken.
Rangers’ Nasser Djiga (L) fouls Dundee’s Finlay Robertson before being sent off
Two minutes later, after Diomande conceded a foul 30 yards out, Callum Jones floated a free-kick into the Rangers box, Robertson got first contact and Astley looped a header over Butland, a VAR check confirming the goal.
To loud boos, Martin replaced Lyall Cameron and Diomande with Nicolas Raskin and Kieran Dowell and soon afterwards Djiga was sent packing by referee Don Robertson for denying Finlay Robertson a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity by taking him out as he raced through towards the Gers goal.
Cyriel Dessers late winner was ruled out for offside
Tavernier and Danilo came on for Rothwell and Max Aarons as Martin tried another route but there was little real danger of note until the 90th minute when Wright tangled legs with Gassama inside the box.
Tavernier sent McCracken the wrong way to set up a tense finish and there was more drama when Dessers drove into the net, only for VAR to rule offside.
Martin: ‘It’s good learning’
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Rangers head coach Russell Martin wants his side to be ‘more aggressive with the ball after they drew at Ibrox with Dundee.
Rangers head coach Russell Martin speaking to Sky Sports News:
“We just didn’t have enough aggression or energy in the team in the first 60 minutes.
“The ball moved too slowly, we didn’t disrupt them against a very well-organised team defending very well but we have to do more to disrupt them, to make them work, to find gaps.
“So it’s good learning, it’s a completely different challenge to Tuesday where we got hunted and pressed.
“It wasn’t about a lack of effort or energy. So it was about just being a bit more aggressive with the ball.
“There’s a bit of tension still in the team, for sure.
“Against a team that defends really deep, you don’t want to be the person to give the ball away but but you have to risk the ball when it’s right for us and it’s on our terms and we can then hunt the ball back.
“It’s great learning for the players. It’s a completely different challenge for them today and one we’ll be better for moving forward.”
Pressley: ‘I could cry’
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Dundee manager Steven Pressley praises his team’s spirit as they drew 1-1 with Rangers at Ibrox.
Dundee head coach Steven Pressley speaking to Sky Sports News:
“We were so close to giving that perfect performance today.
“I really feel for the players. I said to them in there, I could cry for them and I mean that, they gave everything to the team today.
“Our supporters, I’m sure, will be exceptionally proud of the players and I thought over the course of the 90 minutes, we probably merited the victory.
“We had to work tirelessly hard, we had to work hard on the detail, but they showed amazing courage so I couldn’t be prouder.”
Rangers lucky to salvage point
Rangers’ Jack Butland applauds fans at full time
Sky Sports’ Alison Conroy
Russell Martin questioned Rangers’ mentality at Motherwell and this was another test as once again they took a Premiership point they probably didn’t deserve.
He took the blame for his decision to field an unchanged starting XI as they showed little of the energy and desire they did against Viktoria Plzen.
Dundee head coach Steven Pressley said he “could cry” after they were denied a famous victory at Ibrox and you can understand why.
They were well organised, looked comfortable and carried a real threat in attack. It was an impressive display after a tough start under Pressley.
