Rangers Make Winning Start Under Martin with Curtis Leading the Charge | OneFootball

Rangers Ignite Russell Martin Era with Statement Win at Ibrox

Curtis rises to occasion in European spotlight

Russell Martin has never been one to shut the door on inherited players. While he continues to reshape this Rangers side in his own image, he has embraced the unpredictability of youth, allowing ability and attitude to speak louder than experience. That trust was emphatically rewarded as 18-year-old Findlay Curtis lit up Ibrox with a performance that belied his tender years.

Photo: IMAGO

Making only his second senior start, Curtis was handed a starting berth on the left flank in Martin’s first competitive match in charge, a Champions League second-round qualifier against Greek side Panathinaikos. Despite early jitters from the hosts, Curtis provided clarity in the chaos, demanding the ball, slicing inside, and unleashing a ferocious drive that soared into the net and sent the Ibrox faithful into raptures.

Momentum swings through Curtis magic

That goal was more than just a personal milestone for Curtis, who netted for the first time in senior football. It was a turning point. Martin had earlier described his side as “uncomfortable” in a nervy opening half, and with good reason. Rangers struggled for fluency and control, surrendering possession with regularity and relying on Jack Butland’s alertness in goal to stay level.

But Curtis changed the tone. “He has the athleticism and talent to play in this team for sure, but he also has the character,” Martin said before the match, and how right he was.

“Brilliant, son. He’s a cool cat this kid, I tell you,” beamed former winger and coach Neil McCann on Premier Sports. “That’s a fantastic finish, I love that,” added Peter Lovenkrands on BBC Sportsound. The praise was well-earned.

Six minutes after breaking the deadlock, Curtis was at it again, twisting defenders and drawing a second yellow card from Georgios Vagiannidis. It tipped the balance firmly in Rangers’ favour. The contest, once slipping away, was now theirs to command.

Curtis impact and squad response delight Martin

Martin acknowledged the early difficulties his side faced. “Curtis had some tough moments” he admitted, but the youngster’s resilience shone through as he helped “almost single-handedly shift the mood and the course of the game at Ibrox.”

Following Curtis’ withdrawal, Djeidi Gassama added a second goal, latching onto the space afforded by Panathinaikos’ depleted defence and curling home an assured finish to secure a 2-0 first-leg win.

“We expected it to be tough, they are a really good team,” Martin told BBC Scotland. “We had some uncomfortable moments in the first half. We were far from the finished article, but the players showed character and a willingness to fight and to run for each other. And, as the game went on, they started to look after the ball better.”

Butland’s influence and second-leg warnings

For all the celebration, there were sharp reminders that this tie is only halfway done. Rangers rode their luck before Curtis’ intervention. Panathinaikos carved out multiple opportunities, recording 22 touches in the Rangers box by half-time, compared to just six for the hosts. Butland, back in goal after being benched late last season, delivered a trio of excellent saves and earned praise from his manager.

“He’s an outstanding goalkeeper,” Martin said, calling for his squad to carry “the same mentality and the same willingness to run and more” into next week’s return leg.

Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson echoed the caution. “Maybe [the result] doesn’t tell the full story of the match,” he said on BBC Sportsound. “Until the sending-off, Panathinaikos were well in the game. Rangers have put themselves in a great position, but it’s not over yet. European football is difficult and Panathinaikos will feel they have something to prove.”

For Martin and Rangers, the signs are encouraging. The structure is taking shape, the character is emerging, and in Findlay Curtis, a new attacking spark may just have announced himself.