Genk’s Oh Hyeon-gyu seals successful return to Glasgow and deepens Rangers’ gloom | Europa League

Extra punishment for Rangers on the hand of a Belgian opponent. A well-recognized mixture of self-destruction and the poor defending endemic below Russell Martin deepened the gloom. Decreased to 10 males after Mohamed Diomande's reckless first-half problem, insult was added by Genk's objective being scored by a former Celtic striker in Oh Hyeon-gyu.

Martin has talked of “outcomes coming by way of problem” however may barely have chosen to handle a membership the place poor outcomes will trigger extra problem. Ibrox was undersold, simply 38,000 there, although in attendance was Andrew Cavanagh, the co-owner glad-handling followers earlier than kick-off. The American medical health insurance entrepreneur's scheduled go to to Glasgow has allowed him to expertise what followers have been served throughout his selection of supervisor's brief reign.

A contest that returned European glory nights to Govan in recent times has gained much more significance. If falling to date behind Celtic – and Hearts – damns Martin, a repeat of the 9-1 Champions League qualifier drubbing by Brugge may solely deepen his unpopularity. Martin had made one change from a weekend League Cup win over Hibernian that introduced short-term aid, Youssef Chermiti making his first begin as centre-forward.

Genk, coached by former Bayern Munich participant Thorsten Fink, 14th within the Belgian Professional League are not any crack Belgian aspect like Brugge or St Gilloise, and after an early scare when Zakaria El Ouahdi escaped, Rangers dominated possession. Mikey Moore had two early possibilities. The teenage Englishman hurried the second huge when higher suggested to let Nicolas Raskin take the ball on.

A warning was sounded by Oh Hyeon-gyu lacking an opportunity granted by Jayden Meghoma vacating his left-back station. Patrik Hrosovsky quickly struck a publish to additional remind that so a lot of Rangers' present issues are the results of lax defending.

Joris Kayembe appeared to have dealt with James Tavernier's header, if unintentionally, however the busy Slovenian referee, Matej Jug, got here to Genk's rescue when ruling the Rangers captain had pushed the Congolese defender. Diomande's purple card was far much less debatable, studs wildy raking El Ouahdi's leg. A 3rd purple card of Martin's brief reign signifies one other space of concern. His crew seems decided to make life tough. Diomande's exit introduced Ibrox to a muttering hush although boos broke the night time air when Jug returned to the video display screen to rule Tavernier had clipped Yaimar Medina for a Genk penalty.

When Jack Butland saved Oh's poor penalty, there was rapture, Rangers followers finally having one thing to cheer had been rocking the rafters as half-time got here.

The break noticed Moore withdrawn for an additional summer season signing in Oliver Antman. Rangers pushed on, Thelo Aasgaard slicing an early half-chance however Butland remained busy, making two saves throughout a pinball of Genk pictures. Rangers' keeper may solely watch as Oh slid to a really gettable ball however linked with the unsuitable foot to divert huge. Oh wouldn't be denied, escaping to slide Jarne Steuckers' move past Butland, unprotected by one other defensive malfunction.

Oh was denied his second objective, a marginal offside name curbing his touchline celebrations with Fink.

Rangers had been nonetheless within the contest, Martin shifting to 3 in defence within the chase for an equaliser, although an emptying Ibrox mirrored an absence of religion in any rescue mission, regardless of Connor Barrett having his shot deflected behind. It's reported Martin has 4 video games to avoid wasting his job. One down, three to go?