Findlay Curtis rescued Rangers from another humiliating result as the 18-year-old academy graduate scored a vital equaliser in their 1-1 draw with St Mirren. Russell Martin believes the teenager exemplifies the commitment some of his squad's want-away players are lacking.
The boy from Balfron struck with 12 minutes remaining to cancel out Jonah Ayunga's opener, claiming his third goal of the season. However, the result means Rangers have failed to win their opening three league games for the first time since 1989 under Graeme Souness.
Curtis shines amid squad crisis
Martin couldn't hide his admiration for the academy product, who has emerged as a beacon of professionalism whilst transfer speculation swirls around other players. The manager revealed that Lille target Hamza Igamane refused to come off the bench, claiming injury during the warm-up.
"He's been amazing," Martin said of Curtis. "He's so reliable and has so much care for the club and for other people. He wants to fight and run for other people, he wants to take the ball, he wants to score."
The teenager's fearless approach contrasts sharply with teammates whose focus appears divided. Martin added: "He's a really good example to some of the other guys. He's all in. At the minute we still have with the transfer window open, a few too many with one eye somewhere else."
Tactical changes fail to spark Rangers
Rangers started without a recognised striker, with Thelo Aasgaard deployed in a false nine role that failed to provide attacking threat. Ayunga capitalised on poor defending to give St Mirren the lead in the 33rd minute after being released by Mikael Mandron.
Martin switched to a back three at half-time, introducing Danilo and Mikey Moore to inject energy into a disjointed performance. The changes helped Rangers dominate the second half, with Curtis's equaliser appearing to set up a potential winner.
Pressure mounts with Celtic gap widening
The draw leaves Rangers trailing Celtic by six points after just three games, with the Old Firm derby looming next Sunday as a potentially season-defining fixture. Martin admitted his frustration with his team's mental fragility and poor decision-making in crucial moments.
"The courage to really play football all the time - at the minute, we'll take the ball, want the ball, and then we have a setback, it's like the team looks very different with the body language and energy," he explained. Rangers face Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, where squad harmony will be crucial.
Sources used: "Daily Record", "Guardian", "Daily Mail" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
