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Rangers Kieran Dowell is dejected <\/p>\nThere has been a fierce backlash following the opening day draw for the Light Blues at Fir ParkRangers Kieran Dowell is dejected <\/p>\n
Kieran Dowell says Rangers\u2019 Fir Park flops deserved their Russell Martin<\/a> rollicking.<\/p>\n And the midfielder admits certain Ibrox stars are fighting for their futures after a wake-up call at Motherwell.<\/a><\/p>\n Gers slipped up on the opening day of the Premiership<\/a> season for the third consecutive year on Saturday with a 1-1 draw against The Steelmen.<\/p>\n After leading through James Tavernier\u2019s header, they produced an insipid display and the home side got a deserved late equaliser through Emmanuel Longelo.<\/p>\n Afterwards, Martin slated his players\u2019 attitudes<\/a> – accusing them of being ego-driven and slipping into \u2018self-preservation\u2019 mode.<\/p>\n He warned those who don\u2019t want to work for him that they\u2019ll be left behind.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old believes the dressing-down was needed because players have failed under different managers prior to Martin\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n When asked if Martin\u2019s criticism was tough to hear, Dowell said: \u201cYeah, but it was a few home truths. We had a good start to the game and didn\u2019t put it to bed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe almost sleep-walked into conceding that equaliser and probably deserved it in the end.<\/p>\n \u201cDo the players have a lot to prove? 100 percent. Look, obviously it hasn\u2019t been the most successful period for the club and that\u2019s down to us as players.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had a few managers now and it\u2019s 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\u2019s a reality check for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow Record Sport on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.<\/p>\n You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers<\/a> page, and sign up to our newsletters<\/a> to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.<\/p>\n We’re also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tune in to Hotline Live<\/a> every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On<\/a>, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.<\/p>\n Listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On<\/a>, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.<\/p>\n