Celtic Win In Added Time Amid Fan Protests While Rangers Board Back Martin

The debutant Kelechi Iheanacho scored a last-gasp punishment arsenic mutinous Celtic fans were near celebrating a 2-1 triumph complete Kilmarnock that moved them backmost to nan apical of nan Premiership.

After a summertime successful which nan nine were wide deemed to person grounded to adequately bolster their squad successful nan summertime earlier crashing retired of nan Champions League astatine nan hands of Kairat Almaty, angry supporters held a situation gathering past week and decided to boycott nan opening 12 minutes of nan Rugby Park fixture. Around half of nan travelling fans opted against partaking successful nan late-entry protestation while nan others yet filtered successful to witnesser nan remainder of an underwhelming, goalless first half from Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Daizen Maeda eased immoderate of nan hostility erstwhile he headed nan reigning champions successful beforehand pinch only his 2nd extremity since April. But connected a time erstwhile “sack nan board” chants and banners were evident from nan distant end, it looked for illustration nan level were group to travel nether further unit erstwhile David Watson headed Killie level successful nan 83rd minute.

With virtually nan past footwear of nan match, however, Iheanacho – a free-agent signing aft nan transportation deadline – smashed location his spot-kick aft chap substitute James Forrest’s changeable was adjudged to person been handled by Lewis Mayo.

Meanwhile, Russell Martin is understood to clasp nan backing of nan Rangers committee contempt fans furiously calling for his dismissal during and aft nan 2-0 location conclusion to Hearts connected Saturday.

Russell Martin watches Rangers’ conclusion to Hearts. Photograph: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

A Lawrence Shankland double gave nan visitors their first triumph astatine Ibrox successful 11 years and near Gers supporters incandescent pinch rage astatine nan worst commencement to a convention run successful 47 years. Four draws and a conclusion successful nan first 5 Premiership games has near Rangers successful 10th spot successful nan array and fed-up fans sang “Martin, Martin get to fuck” passim nan afternoon, while boos echoed astir nan crushed during different dismal performance.

There were besides chants successful support of nan Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin, near retired of nan squad and sitting successful nan stands amid a conflict pinch nan erstwhile Southampton manager, who heard some Hearts and Rangers fans singing “sacked successful nan morning” arsenic nan points headed to Tynecastle.

Martin, 39, has won only 3 of his 12 games successful complaint truthful acold pinch nan Light Blues bounced retired of nan Champions League qualifier by Club Brugge 9-1 connected aggregate. The under-fire leader replied pinch a patient “no” erstwhile asked aft nan Hearts lucifer if he was going to resign and erstwhile quizzed connected nan guidance from nan fans, he said: “They’re entitled to their opinion, truthful I can’t travel retired present and criticise that. The fans are ever entitled to their opinion.”

Martin is expected to stay successful his station pinch nan support of nan nine and will hole for nan Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Hibernian astatine Ibrox adjacent Saturday.