George Overhill

Tue 28 November 2023 12:10, UK

Peter Martin branded the 1-1 draw between Rangers and Aberdeen “diabolical” as he raged at the “absolutely dire” action at Pittodrie.

The PLZ Soccer host criticised the display on The Football Show on 27 November to such an extent that Neil Lennon stuck up for the Light Blues quality this season while suggesting Martin was “on one” with this rant.

Alan Rough also defended the game as “not that bad” as the host tore it apart in comparison to his delight at turning over to watch the start of Aston Villa’s win at Tottenham in England.

Martin said (17m 30s): “I thought it was a dreadful game. I thought the football was diabolical, some of the play of lumping the ball up into the air. I am of the belief that there are many ways to win a game, you don’t have to play tiki-taka Barcelona football but mother of God.

“The game was absolutely dire. I’m sitting there looking at it and thinking, ‘Right there’s another header into stands, there’s another blooter into the stands. This game’s murder’.

“When it finished I turned it over and the first six minutes of the Tottenham-Villa game, it was unbelievable.”

Lennon responded: “It was a clash of styles yesterday and Rangers sort of got mired into that a little bit. I’ve seen Rangers play some really good football at times this year, but sometimes when you come up against as physical and as direct as Aberdeen are you sometimes get sucked into their style play.”

Scathing

There will have been plenty of Gers supporters who largely agreed with Martin’s assessment of the action as Philippe Clement’s side laboured to a draw and missed the chance to close the gap on Celtic.

It was an untimely reminder that despite the Belgian’s arrival leading to a major improvement over the final days of the Michael Beale era this is still a squad that’s severely lacking.

It goes without saying that the Rangers playing staff is a world away from two of the top sides in the Premier League, but when even Lennon felt moved to defend his long-time Old Firm rivals there might be something to his point.

Most of the focus in the build-up was on the level of effort the Dons put it against Rangers compared to other opponents rather than their style of play.

But one way or another Barry Robson’s side upped their game, with their opener from Bojan Miovski route-one football at it’s most effective and was almost good enough for a win until James Tavernier’s late equaliser from the spot.

While Martin’s assessment might have been unduly harsh it is a recurring feature of the Light Blues for two years now that turgid displays are scattered too heavily throughout the season.

At their best they can be a joy to watch still, but the consistency is a long way short and looks like it will take an overhaul of the overhaul to address the deficiencies in the squad yet.

In other Rangers news, a potential Ibrox signing has admitted his club might want to get rid of him in January.