Danny Röhl discovered Rangers’ problems run deeper than their former manager Russell Martin as they were blitzed 3-0 by Brann in Bergen. The 36-year-old German head coach was installed as Martin’s successor on Monday with Rangers sitting sixth in the Premiership and having lost their opening two games in the Europa League to Genk and Sturm Graz.
However, a new era at Rangers continued along familiar lines against a side third in the Norwegian top flight. Emil Kornvig scored five minutes before the break to give Freyr Alexandersson’s side a deserved interval lead, Jacob Sørensen added a second with Noah Holm firing in a third on a night when once again the beleaguered Light Blues performed to an embarrassingly low standard.
It seems there will be no quick fix to shake Rangers out of their lethargy. With five remaining Europa League games against tough opposition, progress into the knockout phase looks unlikely and after a sobering debut, the former Sheffield Wednesday manager has to prepare his side to face Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Sunday.
Röhl’s first team selection saw him bring in defender Nasser Djiga and the much-maligned 21-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti for Derek Cornelius and Bojan Miovski, who were both on the bench.
The sporting director, Kevin Thelwell, had this week defended the signing of unproven Chermiti for a reported fee of £8.5m from Everton. He found little joy with some early touches and missed a first-half sitter but his teammates were no better.
The home side looked more fluid and in the 14th minute Eivind Helland headed a corner wide before Jack Butland made a terrific save from Ulrik Mathisen’s point-blank header, after he was set up by Holm.
Danny Röhl gestures to his Rangers team during the defeat in Bergen. Photograph: Kirk O’Rourke/Rangers FC/Shutterstock
Butland then parried Bård Finne’s angled drive before Holm fired over the bar but Rangers came back and Thelo Aasgaard miskicked 14 yards from goal after taking a pass from James Tavernier. There was more profligacy when Chermiti meekly headed a curling Nicolas Raskin cross into the hands of Mathias Dyngeland.
The Norwegian side had regained control when Finne raced into the box with Tavernier nowhere to be seen but, although he took a poor touch as John Souttar challenged, the ball moved past Butland with Kornvig first there to knock it into the net.
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It was more of the same after half-time for Rangers and the second goal was soon conceded, after Oliver Antman conceded a foul wide on the left. When Finne curled the free-kick into the box Sørensen easily got away from Jayden Meghoma to knock the ball past Butland.
Antman made way for Mikey Moore, who flashed a cross from Meghoma over the bar from 12 yards but Holm was more clinical from the same distance when a cross from Vetle Dragsnes landed at his feet. For frustrated Rangers fans, it was a new face in the dugout but the same old frailties on the pitch.
