Rangers fans are always right and Russell Martin will just have to accept it – Barry Ferguson
The legendary Gers skipper knows how Russell Martin would have felt on Tuesday night during the club's 3-1 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge
It can feel like the loneliest place in the world.
When you’re standing on the touchline at Ibrox with your Rangers team two goals down – and the punters are venting their anger.
I’ve experienced it myself. So I know exactly how Russell Martin must have felt on Tuesday night against Club Brugge.
It’s not a nice feeling. You feel helpless. But you know what I used to say to myself? I’d be reacting exactly the same way if I was in the stands.
Because at that moment, the fans are RIGHT. They’re entitled to be angry and frustrated.
And as manager, it falls on you.
In games like that, and Russell said it himself afterwards, you’re just desperate to get the players in.
You’re looking at the clock and it’s not moving.
You just want to sort it and ensure they go back out there far more competitive.
I had to actually try and keep my emotions in check at times - but I don’t think you saw that.
I was up and down like a yo-yo. I always tried to live in the moment and feed off the stands.
That’s what I was like as a player and it's how I wanted to operate as a manager.
It’s tough in the technical area when things aren’t going well and the fans have every right to voice their displeasure.
You definitely feel it and it’s tough. But at this club, it’s the nature of the beast.
I was lucky enough to be brought up with it. I know some players who come in are taken aback by it.
But it’s Glasgow Rangers. You’re there to do a job and that’s to win games of football - or at least be as competitive.
Rangers didn’t do that in the first half against Brugge and I’m sure that would have disappointed the manager.
It’s easy for me to say it because I know what the club’s all about - and so does Russell.
It’s a demanding place to play. The expectation is to get a result against anyone.
I’ve always said that Rangers fans don’t expect you to play brilliantly in every game.
But they expect you to compete.
I felt the brunt of it during games last season against Motherwell and Hibs when we went two goals behind.
Was it pleasant? No, it wasn’t. But it’s part of being at Rangers.
I’m afraid it comes with the territory and you need to be able to handle it.
When you suffer a performance like that first half the other night, it’s about how you react to it.
And I’ll give Russell and the players credit for their response after the break. But that’s how you’ve got to start games.
You can’t give teams like Brugge a start because they take advantage of it.
Defensive mistakes cost Rangers. You just don’t get away with it at that level.
People might look at Club Brugge as a club from a small country but they’ve spent £40 million this summer on good players.
I watched them last season at Celtic Park so I knew it was going to be a tough game for Rangers.
But defensively Rangers were all over the place early on.
Brugge have quality. They have good, technical footballers who can manipulate the ball.
So if you give a team like that a head start, you’re in for a difficult night.
And in the first 45 minutes, it was as tough as it could possibly be for Rangers.
In the second half, it was just about trying not to leak any more goals.
And at least they got one back which gives them a glimmer of hope for the second-leg.
It’s going to be really tough over there next week. I’ve looked at Brugge’s record at home and they’re very strong.
What you have to do is not give them any encouragement at all.
Rangers have to go there and make sure they don’t give anything away for 20 minutes.
They have to frustrate Brugge and try to get their fans on their backs.
Then, you just never know what might happen. They could feel a bit of pressure because they’re now expected to go into the Champions League now.
Rangers have to be rock solid as a unit - and pose a threat.
I suppose it might take a performance like Fenerbahce last season.
What we did that night was set up to be really strong and compact defensively - but hit them on the counter attack.
If we’d have opened up in Istanbul, we’d have played into Fenerbahce’s hands.
Rangers have to upset Brugge and make their fans edgy. Get in their faces and mess with their heads a bit.
But before any of that, they have to go to St Mirren on Sunday and win.
I’m not going to try and kid anyone. Rangers must go to Paisley and take three points.
Stephen Robinson is a manager I really respect, in terms of how he sets his teams up.
They’re a well-drilled unit. But you have to stand up to their physicality and find a way to win.
Rangers have just two points from two league games so far.
They need to start building momentum in the Premiership but St Mirren is one of the toughest places to get a victory.
I don’t care how they get it, I really don’t. Even if they don't play well, the most important thing is they get the three points.
It can be one of the worst games I’ve ever watched on Sunday. All I’m bothered about is the players coming back along that motorway to Ibrox with a win.
I wouldn’t even be thinking about Brugge next Wednesday or Celtic up ahead.
I’d be concentrating on a difficult venue and coming up with a way – however you do it – of just making sure you win.
Nothing else matters.