"But watching his reaction when Mohamed Diomande got a deserved red card four minutes before half-time at Ibrox made you feel for the man. Rangers had been second best. Fitful at the back, wasteful in possession, headless chickens in too many areas. Again. Even before the red, it looked likely that Martin's period of calm after Saturday's League Cup win over Hibernian was about to come to a shuddering and noisy end."
"In losing the plot, Diomande more or less ensured that Rangers were losing this Europa League opener against Genk, currently Belgium's 14th best team. In lunging in on Zakaria El Ouahdi, Diomande left his team-mates in a terrible lurch, already struggling with 11 and now sitting ducks with 10. The lack of self-control was unforgivable, the look of confused innocence on his face in the aftermath a complete nonsense."
"Diomande, who on his very best days looks like a player worthy of the jersey, has been nowhere near it this season. Too often he's been lazy in his work and now he was ridiculous in his discipline. And so Martin was left, once again, to reap the whirlwind of those Rangers supporters who remained until the end. Around 12,000 tickets went unsold - a reflection of a deepening apathy."
Rangers produced a poor and disjointed performance, showing defensive frailty, wasteful possession and chaotic play across multiple areas. Mohamed Diomande received a deserved red card four minutes before half-time after lunging on Zakaria El Ouahdi, leaving the team reduced to ten men and effectively ending chances in the Europa League opener against Genk. Diomande has displayed lazy work-rate and poor discipline this season, undermining his potential. Supporter frustration intensified, with boos and chants demanding the manager's departure and around 12,000 tickets unsold. Club leadership appeared tense in the directors' box, and the chairman's public backing of the manager may mask private doubts.
Read at www.bbc.com
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