Rangers kicked off their pre-season schedule and life under Russell Martin and the 49ers backed ownership group earlier today.
The light blues hosted Belgian side Club Brugge, the former side of ex-manager Phillipe Clement at Ibrox as supporters had their first chance to see Martin’s side in the flesh.
Rangers have been active over the last few days in the transfer market, signing Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez and Thelo Aasgaard in the past four days but none started, with only Fernandez making the bench.
Max Aarons joined earlier this summer, and he was giving a starting berth at right back with captain James Tavernier relegated to the bench. Liam Kelly began in goal while Aarons was joined in defence by Jefte and surprisingly both Leon King and Robin Propper were picked in the heart of the backline.
The midfield three to begin were Nico Raskin, returning loanee Kieran Dowell and surprise skipper for the first 45 Connor Barron.
With both Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers yet to return to training following international commitments and summer speculation it was Danilo leading the line, flanked on either side by young Findlay Curtis and now permanent Rangers player Oscar Cortes.
Rangers started fairly brightly, with Martin’s trademark possession-based style beginning to come to the surface but still in its infancy the hosts enjoyed the bulk of possession with minimal penetration.
It would however, be the Belgians who would score first, with Hugo Vetlesen opening the scoring after a good initial stop from Kelly to silence an already subdued Ibrox.
They would add a second shortly after with Ludovit Reis scoring a stunning volley from outside the area to leave Martin and co scratching their heads.
Rangers would calm the game down for the remainder of the half and regain control. Raskin and Aarons would shoot from range but most of the build up play was slow and thoughtful, with the forward line looking to pass around looking for windows of opportunity to get through.
Lots of one touch passing and give and go’s from the Gers but only a strike from Raskin would really test former Liverpool goalie Simon Mingolet in the Brugge goal as the visitors went in at the break two to the good.
Lyall Cameron, Rothwell & Aasgaard would all be paraded at half time with a view to them making their Ibrox bows against Middlesbrough later in the month.
A raft of half-time changes for Rangers as is customary in these pre-season games with Jack Butland, Tavernier, Bailey Rice, Nedim Bajrami, and Mohammed Diomande replacing Kelly, Propper, Raskin, Dowell and Barron.
Diomande would make an early impact passing a Cortes layoff neatly into the far corner after a layoff from Cortes, who looked far brighter today than he did for most of an injury hit season last term to get the side back in the match.
Fernandez would be introduced for his Rangers debut midway through the half and would be joined on the park by Ross McCausland, Ridvan Yilmaz, now sporting the 33 shirt and youngsters Zander Hutton and Josh Gentles, who made their first appearances at Ibrox for the first team.
McCausland would swap wings throughout with Curtis, who would be the only starter to finish the contest, while both Hutton at right back and Gentles up top would hold their own, with Rangers dominating most of the closing stages.
Curtis would be rewarded for his persistent performance with a late goal, running onto a perfectly weighted Bajrami layoff to level the match in the final minute with his first Ibrox goal to ensure Martin exited his first match without defeat.
The final whistle blew to a modest but appreciative applause as Rangers wrapped up a 2-2 draw with Club Brugge in what was ultimately a useful first outing under Martin.
Despite a shaky first half in which the new-look backline was caught out twice, there were clear signs of the possession-heavy, methodical football Martin is known for.
Rangers grew into the contest as the game wore on, with a more energetic and aggressive second-half display fuelled by a mix of returning experience and youthful exuberance.
While Brugge threatened on the break a couple of times, the second half belonged to the hosts. The introduction of Fernandez and the performances of Curtis and Cortes offered optimism, while Bajrami’s late assist showed he could yet play a creative role this season despite a mixed at best first year in Govan.
Ultimately, this was a game more about process than result. Martin will take encouragement from his side's composure in the second half and the way in which the young players, particularly Curtis and Hutton, stepped up under the lights at Ibrox.
The late equaliser was a deserved reward for their control in the closing stages.
With Middlesbrough up next and several new signings still to be integrated, this was a promising, if imperfect, first step into the club’s new era but with Panathinaikos on the horizon on the 22nd these raw attributes will need to become more focused and prominent sooner, rather than later.
Ratings:
Kelly 6 (Butland 6)
Aarons 7 (Hutton 6)
Propper 4 (Tavernier 7)
King 3 (Fernandez 6)
Jefte 4 (Yilmaz 6)
Barron 6 (Rice 6)
Raskin 6 (Diomande 8)
Dowell 6 (Bajrami 8)
Cortes 7 (McCausland 5)
Curtis 9 MOTM
Danilo 6 (Gentles 7)
Subs not used: Munn