A BLAME DUCK MANAGER

Martin's scapegoating of his own men shows he's doomed

- By Andy Newport

GREG STEWART sat in the Ibrox changing room after the worst result of Steven Gerrard’s Rangers reign and watched a manager take full responsibility.

Stewart will never forget the vitriol that was aimed at the Gers squad following a 1-0 home league defeat to Hamilton in March 2020.

The scenes that followed David Moyo’s shock winner didn’t quite match the toxic fury witnessed at Ibrox on Saturday as Russell Martin’s side lost 2-0 to Hearts, but it wasn’t far off it.

But what really sticks out for Stewart is the way Gerrard handled the fallout from that humbling.

Even as the boos rang out at full-time, the England legend refused to throw his players under the bus.

“Look, we’re all in this together,” he told the media that night. “I’ve put that team and squad together. So if that means me taking the heat away from the players, no problem.”

It was that protective shield that allowed the group to regather when Covid struck before mounting a remarkable drive all the way to Premiership glory the next season.

For Stewart, that approach is in stark contrast to the one adopted by Martin on Saturday.