GLASS IS HALF FULL FOR GERS

Martin needs big boys after fringe men fail to dent Boro

- BY FRASER WILSON

RUSSELL MARTIN handed his fringe men their big chance to stake a claim ahead of Athens.

But it was the emergence of his top team offthe bench after an hour that ensured they head to Greece without momentum being ruined.

Findlay Curtis followed up his wonder goal against Panathinaikos with a 79th-minute equaliser after Danilo had halved Boros two-goal lead.

But the big talking point arrived at halftime when Martin failed to return to the sidelines for the second half.

It later emerged hed been sent to the stands by refJohn Beaton for arguing over a penalty shout.

The Championship side took a ninth-minute lead when Law McCabe’ corner was netted by Neto Borges.

Boro were well ahead in terms of first-half chances.

Scotland man Tommy Conway, McCabe and Delano Burgzorg went close while onetime Gers target Morgan Whittaker hit a post.

Rangers were denied a penalty when Luke Ayling struck the ball with his hand from a corner - something that incensed Martin heading down the tunnel.

But Dael Fry made it 2-0 in 56 minutes when he ghosted in at the back to guide Whittaker's free-kick home at the second attempt.