(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Tue 12 August 2025 21:32, UK

Russell Martin needs to find a way of getting more out of his strike force after Cyriel Dessers endured a tough match against Viktoria Plzen.

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Rangers travelled to Viktoria Plzen with a 3-0 lead from the first leg, but the Gers survived a scare in the Czech Republic to progress 4-1 on aggregate.

Jack Butland saved Rangers from elimination, and a Lyall Cameron goal in the second half proved crucial as Viktoria Plzen won 2-1 on the night.

Martin is already under pressure at Rangers, and this result and performance would have done little to endear him to the supporters.

Dessers started against Viktoria Plzen.

Dessers played only 54 minutes of the match as he was forced off with a knee injury and replaced by Danilo, who too suffered from little service.

Minutes Played54Total Shots0Chances Created 0Touches15Touches in the Opposition Box3Dessers’ attacking stats against Viktoria Plzen as per Fotmob.

The 30-year-old could not impact the game, as well as wingers Oliver Antman and Djeidi Gassama who also struggled to receive the ball and trouble the home defence.

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Martin suffered a shock defeat against Viktoria Plzen.

(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Following a comfortable first leg victory, being unable to put a sustained period of pressure on the Viktoria Plzen defence will be a concern for Martin.

The manager has already questioned his players after their league draw at Motherwell, and their mentality may be called into question here thinking that the job was done from the first leg.

After that Motherwell match, the data showed Danilo was let down by a lack of support and service up-front.

Against Dundee in their last league match, Rangers relied on a 97th minute James Tavernier penalty to break through a stubborn visiting defence.

Rangers were fortunate to get on the scoresheet at Viktoria Plzen and Martin perhaps needs to invest in further creativity and goals before the transfer window shuts.

Spurs loanee Mikey Moore and Thelo Aasgaard though are yet to return and those two forwards should help in that department.

Rangers will face Club Brugge in the play-off round of the Champions League, a side they played in pre-season and let have a two-goal lead before the Gers came back to draw 2-2 at Ibrox.

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