Kieran Dowell accuses Rangers of sleepwalking as home truths hurt in fight to rescue Ibrox career

Kieran Dowell accuses Rangers of sleepwalking as home truths hurt in fight to rescue Ibrox career

There has been a fierce backlash following the opening day draw for the Light Blues at Fir Park

Rangers Kieran Dowell is dejected

Kieran Dowell says Rangers’ Fir Park flops deserved their Russell Martin rollicking.

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And the midfielder admits certain Ibrox stars are fighting for their futures after a wake-up call at Motherwell.

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Gers slipped up on the opening day of the Premiership season for the third consecutive year on Saturday with a 1-1 draw against The Steelmen.

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After leading through James Tavernier’s header, they produced an insipid display and the home side got a deserved late equaliser through Emmanuel Longelo.

Afterwards, Martin slated his players’ attitudes - accusing them of being ego-driven and slipping into ‘self-preservation’ mode.

He warned those who don’t want to work for him that they’ll be left behind.

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Dowell, who is having a Rangers revival under the new boss after it looked like his days at Ibrox were numbered, says the flak was justified.

The 27-year-old believes the dressing-down was needed because players have failed under different managers prior to Martin’s arrival.

When asked if Martin’s criticism was tough to hear, Dowell said: “Yeah, but it was a few home truths. We had a good start to the game and didn’t put it to bed.

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“We almost sleep-walked into conceding that equaliser and probably deserved it in the end.

“Do the players have a lot to prove? 100 percent. Look, obviously it hasn’t been the most successful period for the club and that’s down to us as players.

“We’ve had a few managers now and it’s up to us to prove it if we want to be at this club moving forward. Saturday was a big blow for the players, it’s a reality check for us.”

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