Monday’s briefing: Rangers seek new boss as Ange Postecoglou braces for ‘fight’

Russell Martin’s troubled tenure at Rangers was brought to an end when he was sacked after one only win in seven league games.

In the Premier League, Erling Haaland’s early goal gave Manchester City a 1-0 victory over Brentford.

The top flight’s last unbeaten record went as Jack Grealish fired Everton to victory over Crystal Palace.

Russell Martin shown the door at Rangers

The axe fell on Martin after a 1-1 draw with Falkirk left them in the bottom half of the William Hill Premiership.

Martin has only presided over one victory in seven league games in charge and needed mounted police to help escort him out of the Falkirk Stadium car park as Rangers fans vented their anger.

A club statement read: “Rangers Football Club confirms that it has parted company with head coach Russell Martin.

“While all transition periods require some time, results have not met the club’s expectations.”

Martin had come under increasing pressure, with fans demanding his exit even after they sealed a late win at Livingston the previous weekend.

Erling Haaland strikes again

Haaland ticked the Gtech Stadium off his to-do list, leaving Anfield as the only ground at which he is yet to score in the Premier League.

Just eight minutes had elapsed when the Norwegian striker raced on to a ball over the top from Josko Gvardiol and finished in trademark fashion.

It was Haaland’s 18th goal in 11 matches for club and country this season, while his ninth league goal of the campaign also took City boss Pep Guardiola to 250 wins in the competition.

The downside of the afternoon was another injury for Rodri, and Guardiola said: “It looks like a hamstring but we don’t know the damage yet.”

Jack Grealish condemns Palace to first loss

Grealish’s first goal for Everton snatched a 2-1 victory in added time to end Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run.

The on-loan Manchester City winger knew little about it as Eagles’ goalscorer Daniel Munoz’s clearance rebounded off him into the net but he happily claimed it, after manager David Moyes had called on him to produce more of a threat in front of goal.

David Moyes admitted his side had been second best for much of the game, saying: “I thought Crystal Palace should have been out of sight, they should have been 3-0 up, but we stuck at it.”

Palace boss Oliver Glasner echoed Moyes, saying: “Massively disappointed, it hurts, how the game was played. I have seen 60 to 70 minutes of fantastic performance of our team and we didn’t decide the game when we could have done.”

Another defeat for Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou came out fighting as speculation over his future at Nottingham Forest intensified after a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Newcastle.

The Forest boss has won none of his first seven games since taking over the City Ground hotseat.

Asked if his self-belief had been dented by a difficult start at Forest, Postecoglou said: “I started in Australia when I was 32 years old in semi-professional football and I’m here in the Premier League at the age of 60. Do you reckon I lack self-belief or don’t like a fight?

“I didn’t get here because of my connections. In fact, I’ve picked fights. I have, even in the schoolyard. I’ve picked fights with people who I knew would beat me up. That’s the kind of person I am, so that’s fine.”

What’s on today?

The latest international break begins, with England and Wales players preparing for their friendly clash on Thursday.

In League Two, a midtable battle sees 16th-placed Harrogate face Crewe in 12th.