Ally McCoist: Rangers legend compares Russell Martin to Ruben Amorim after ‘horrendous’ defending – ‘You have to adapt’

Critics have accused the Rangers head coach of showing little tactical flexibility in what has been a turbulent start to his tenure.

Rangers’ victory over Livingston on Sunday was their first league win under Martin, leaving them eighth in the Scottish Premiership table.

Meanwhile, Amorim is also under pressure with The Red Devils occupying 14th place in the Premier League.

“You can argue it’s the same situation with Amorim at Manchester United,” said McCoist during Rangers’ 2-1 UEFA Europa League defeat at Sturm Graz.

“He likes to play that way, that’s fine, as long as you have the players to play that way. It doesn’t matter what team you’re coaching.

“You have to adapt to your players, and play a formation that suits them, not you. Recruitment has been poor. Not just this season.”

Rangers’ defensive frailties were again exposed in Austria, conceding inside seven minutes when Tomi Horvat punished slack marking from a throw-in.

“It’s horrendous. Rangers throw in, and they’re straight through,” lamented McCoist.

“I’m staggered at that level of defending. It’s absolutely shocking defending. Is (Jack) Butland a little bit unsighted? It is a howler of a goal to lose from your own throw in. It’s just far too easy. Far, far, too easy.”

Otar Kiteishvili’s effort left Rangers trailing 2-0 at half-time, with former Scotland international Kenny McLean describing the performance as a “tough watch”.

“It’s the ease that Sturm Graz get the chances. It’s criminal to be honest, the way they’ve been exposed,” he said.

An improved second-half performance by Rangers saw Djeidi Gassama cut the deficit in half with a fierce strike on 49 minutes, but Martin’s side could not force the comeback to salvage a point, leaving them with two defeats from two matches thus far in the league phase.

McCoist, though, felt their upturn after the break was a minimum requirement, and ultimately the defeat “is the most important thing”.

“The bottom line is if you start the game needing to score three goals to win it you’re up against it,” he said. “Level of defending and performance in the first half not good enough.”

McCoist added: “That’s two games in Europe they’ve lost against opposition I feel, people have seen off quite comfortably. One or two reasonable performances but the Rangers fans will be disappointed.

“That’s 22 away games without a clean sheet, which by any standards is very, very poor. When you watch the first half it’s understandable why they can’t keep clean sheets.

“The first goal, particularly the second goal, the defending was nothing short of appalling. The second half they were miles better, could have got a draw but they have no points for the campaign so far.”

Martin’s style of play came under heavy scrutiny during his time in charge of Southampton in the Premier League. He led Saints for much of the 2024/25 campaign but was dismissed before their eventual relegation with 12 points.

The 2-1 defeat leaves Rangers 32nd in the 36-team league phase.