Martin given police escort as Rangers fans block team bus

Angry Rangers fans tried to prevent the team bus leaving the Falkirk Stadium following the 1-1 draw on Sunday, with a large police presence required to allow players and staff to exit.

Under-pressure head coach Russell Martin was escorted from the ground in a separate car by police in a bid to keep him away from supporters who have been calling for his removal for several weeks.

A group, mainly clad in black, were led away from the ground at about 18:30 BST - more than 90 minutes after the match had finished.

The draw was the latest in a series of disappointing results for Rangers, which have left them eighth in the Premiership, 11 points behind leaders Hearts, nine adrift of rivals Celtic, and four clear of bottom club Aberdeen.

Martin, who was appointed on a three-year contract in June, has won only one of his first seven league matches and been the subject of fan protests and chants against him at recent games.

It remains to be seen whether the board will keep faith with the former Southampton boss over the international break, with Rangers not in action again until 18 October when they host fourth-placed Dundee United.

Martin - who has five victories in 17 games across all competitions - accepted responsibility for the latest poor performance at third-bottom Falkirk and said there were "no excuses".

"The team, ultimately, is a reflection on me and it has to be better and do better so I need to take responsibility and look at that myself," he said.

The 39-year-old insisted he could still turn things around, but knows the "noise" around his future is increasing.

"You'd have to ask the people above me," added Martin.

"I feel that the players and the staff are really behind me. I felt really supported by everyone else above me as well, and I can't dictate whether that changes or not.

"I have to just try to focus on winning football matches, because of what I see every day with the players, how invested they are in it, how hard they run.

"If I felt any differently, I would feel differently here. It probably wouldn't hurt as much, but I know they're really trying."

It would appear the Ibrox hierarchy now have a big decision to make. Ride out the storm, support their man and trust he will deliver the improved results they require - or admit the current situation is irretrievable and call time on a project that never really got off the ground.

Having to be smuggled away from the Falkirk Stadium was an unedifying end to the latest dreadful day for a man who seems to be caught in the wrong movie. It's turning into a horror film rather than a heartwarming tale.

One wonders at which point the board's duty of care to their employee kicks in. There's only so much one man can put up with, after all.

It didn't take long for the usual chants to kick in at Falkirk, especially after the hosts equalised with 17 minutes left. "Martin, Martin, get to…". That seems like a mild rebuke compared to the fury that gathered outside not long after the final whistle.

The majority of Rangers supporters have had enough and former striker Kris Boyd admitted "something has to change".

He told Sky Sports: "It is not good enough. They've not been to Tynecastle, Easter Road, Celtic Park, Pittodrie, Tannadice or Rugby Park. This is only going to get worse if it doesn't change. It's getting worse."

This was a game Rangers simply had to win and they fell short. Again.

Falkirk were very good value for their equaliser, a point not lost on ex-Ibrox defender Richard Foster, who said on BBC Sportsound: "Rangers are being out-run by other teams in the division and that's a sad indictment. They were miles off Falkirk today."