Kevin's forward thinking after a grim stalemate

IT says a lot about the state Rangers have got into that Kevin Thelwell watched Sunday's drab draw with Celtic and saw a team taking a step forward.

- BY ANDY NEWPORT

The grim goalless stalemate was hardly a demonstration of all the pretty things promised to the Ibrox faithful when Thelwell named Russell Martin as manager.

Four straight draws means Martin's presided over the club's worst league start since 1983 and came hot on the heels of a record-equalling battering by Club Brugge in the Champions League playoffs.

For many fans, that was the final straw for Martin's reign after barely 90 days.