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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Kris Boyd fears Rangers end game for Gio as club hero pinpoints key reason for Ibrox fan backlash

Rangers icon Kris Boyd fears the pressure is rapidly starting to build on Gio van Bronckhorst after the "lacklustre" draw with Livingston.

The Dutchman was showered with boos and angers from irate Ibrox punters who believe the 47-year-old's time is up after only 11 months in charge in Govan. Van Bronckhorst had vowed to bring the intensity to soothe his Rangers detractors but his side failed to impress again with John Lundstram rescuing a point late in the game against the 10-man visitors.

And Boyd concedes Van Bronckhorst must rapidly improve their form to appease fed-up supporters who booed the side off for the second time this week, with the punters unleashing on the team after the sluggish 1-0 Premier Sports Cup win over Dundee on Wednesday. The draw leaves last season's Europa League finalists four points behind champions Celtic and facing a mammoth fight to hang with Ange Postecoglou's side.

When asked about pressure on Van Bronckhorst on Sky Sports Boyd said: "I think the performances haven't been great but he's managed to win games of football. Livingston at home, it's an opportunity to get a few goals and the confidence back ahead of an away trip to Naples.

"But it was another lacklustre performance from Rangers. Flat, lack of creativity again, and I think that's been the main reason why the fans have been acting the way they have been.

"Livingston were organised and when Rangers got into the final third, the balls were poor. You expect Rangers to be a class above the rest in the Scottish Premiership but it's not been the case.

"Everything seems to be a struggle in this moment in time and it's like everything else, if you don't win games of football then there's added pressure on the manager. I'm sure that will be no different at Ibrox. It was a real flat performance at Ibrox, and that's why the pressure will start building on Giovanni van Bronckhorst."

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