THE misery mounted on under-pressure manager Russell Martin as he saw his team toppled 2-0 by Hearts at Ibrox this afternoon.
Boos and jeers bounced around the stadium with the home side still looking for their first league win after five games.
Lawrence Shankland claimed a goal in each half to condemn Martin’s strugglers to defeat, but just as crucially the Tynecastle team are now three points ahead of Celtic before the champions take on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park tomorrow afternoon.
The raging home followers vented their rage as they targeted their team boss who looked shell-shocked at the final whistle.
The breakthrough goal arrived in the 22nd minute and was claimed by Shankland to trigger the first cacophony of jeers from the boo brigade.
JUST ABOUT ON HIS KNEES…a worried Russell Martin at Ibrox.
Martin was clearly on edge as the fans behind his dug-out pointed accusing fingers and yelled abuse.
The Edinburgh men had surged forward on the left and Cláudio Braga held up the ball until the precise moment Shankland moved away from John Souttar in the box.
The Scotland international hitman took a touch before swivelling and driving a low angled effort wide of Jack Butland to his left.
The hosts had a scare inside three minutes when Craig Halkett connected with a free-kick, but headed over the bar from six yards.
In the 68th minute, James Tavernier was booked for speaking out of turn after the Ibrox side were denied a goal following a foul on keeper Alexander Schwolow.
And it was all over in the 82nd minute when Shankland tucked away a penalty-kick rebound.
Harry Milne was tripped by Mo Diomande and referee Steve McLean unhesitatingly pointed to the spot. There was a VAR check before the award was ratified.
Butland saved Shankland’s first attempt low to his left, but the ball broke to the rival captain who swept in the rebound.
Celtic can open a nine-point gap over the Ibrox side with a win at Rugby Park.
