Rangers have equalled another unwanted record from their distant past this evening after conceding the opening goal against Austrian side Sturm Graz in their UEFA Europa League match at the Merkur Arena.
New head coach Russell Martin, appointed in the summer, has been under heavy fire and constant criticism from the majority of the Ibrox support after consistently poor performances, a European humiliation that seen the Gers lose 9-1 on aggregate to Belgian side Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League playoff round, and a worst domestic start to a season since 1978/79.
That start seen the side go six games until earning a victory, drawing four and losing at Ibrox to Derek McInnes’ table topping Hearts side, before finally winning with a 94th minute Max Aarons volley away to Livingston last Sunday.
Tonight however, it was back to poor starts, going behind to a Tomi Horvat strike after less than ten minutes, which caused Martin and his side to equal a record stretching back to the Victorian era.
By conceding the goal, the Gers equalled a run of 22 competitive away games without a clean sheet, an unwanted record not seen since a period between 1895 and 1897. Martin continued a record left over from the tenures of Phillipe Clement and interim boss Barry Ferguson by matching a record that was set before Rangers even had a manager, in fact the previous record was set under the tenure of match secretary James Gossland at the turn of the 20th century.
Jack Butland was at fault for the Austrian side’s goal, palming a shot right at him into the roof of the net, but the defence in front of him was, as usual this term, all over the place. Butland and his understudy Liam Kelly are the two goalkeepers who have the unwanted place between the sticks for this record, with Rangers last away clean sheet coming against Ross County, now in the Championship, all the way back on the 8th of December last year, in a 3-0 Gers win.
With an awful record, and away teams no longer having any fear of the Bears coming to their home grounds it is hard to see where this record ends, with John McGlynn and Falkirk awaiting the club upon their return this Sunday, the Bairns will be eager to make it a club record 23 away games without a clean sheet this weekend.
Rangers currently trail 2-0 in Austria as we head towards half time, looking set to add another defeat to their opening league phase loss to Genk at Ibrox last week.