Rangers Advance Despite Protests as Nico Raskin Sparks Revival
Rangers reached the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals despite protests against manager Russell Martin; Nico Raskin's return offered a spark amid league struggles.
Rangers manager Russell Martin endured fan protests before guiding his side to a 2-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final win over Hibernian.
Outside Ibrox, supporters held banners reading “Russell out – worst manager in history,” while over 15,000 seats remained empty. Inside, objects were thrown onto the pitch as fans voiced their frustrations.
American chairman Andrew Cavanagh attended the match but many opted to stay away. Despite the tension, Martin maintained his composure throughout a turbulent start to the season.
The return of Nico Raskin
Midfielder Nico Raskin, a subject of recent squad debates, returned to the starting lineup and proved decisive. The 24-year-old forced a first-half handball that overturned an Hibs opener and later scored the opening goal with a precise header.
"I think I gave him a role today that really suits him and freed him up a little bit and I think he was fantastic," Martin said. "You have to make a decision as a coach that you think is best for the team at the time."
After the match, Raskin reflected: "Everything hasn't been perfect. I didn't enjoy parts of it, the manager didn't enjoy parts of it. Now we have had a good chat and hopefully we can work together and have a good spell."
Looking ahead
Despite the cup victory, Rangers sit 11th in the Premiership, nine points behind leaders Celtic after five games. Their European hopes lie in the Europa League following a Champions League play-off exit to Club Brugge, with a tie against Genk next.
Despite intense fan unrest, a cup win highlighted Martin’s resilience and Raskin’s impact, offering Rangers a potential platform to rebuild confidence.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
Explore useful articles in Sports News as of 20-09-2025. The article titled " Rangers Advance Despite Protests as Nico Raskin Sparks Revival " offers in-depth analysis and practical advice in the Sports News field. Each article is carefully crafted by experts to provide maximum value to readers.
The " Rangers Advance Despite Protests as Nico Raskin Sparks Revival " article expands your knowledge in Sports News, keeps you informed about the latest developments, and helps you make well-informed decisions. Each article is based on unique content, ensuring originality and quality.