SNOWBALLS DOUGHBALLS
the Tony Macaroni Arena pitch at each other before turning their attention on police and photographers at half time.
But the start of the second half was delayed when home keeper Max Stryjek became the target.
Referee David Munro only gave the go-ahead for the second half to resume once the pile of icy missiles had been cleared from the Pole’s goalmouth.
In bizarre scenes, Martindale ordered his players to warm up at the side of the pitch while he marched on to the park to remonstrate with the officials.
And he laid into the travelling Gers support again after the final whistle. Martindale said: “We shouldn’t be standing here talking about the doughballs with the snowballs.
“I just don’t understand it. You could maybe see if it your team is getting beat and there’s a bit of frustration there.
“But when your team is winning 2-1, to hold up the second half – I don’t understand that at all.
“I just think it’s a little bit of a blight on Scottish football – it’s on telly!
“It’s on national telly and people are watching that so come on, screw the nut a wee bit.
“I know the majority of Rangers fans were not throwing snowballs but it doesn’t look good for anyone.
“It doesn’t look good for Rangers, it doesn’t look good for Livingston and it doesn’t look good for Scottish football.
“That’s my take on it anyway.
“Rangers should be going away from here talking about the 3-1 win in Gio’s first game, their first three points under the new manager.
“But instead we’re talking about the Rangers fans throwing snowballs at the Livingston players at the start of the second half.
“It’s just stupid and I don’t understand it. With the snow in the penalty box it could have been back to the Liverpool beach ball one – different I know but you get the analogy.
“You want to be talking about the football so fair play to Rangers.”
Scott Arfield and Joe Aribo put Rangers in control early on before Livi striker Bruce Anderson exploited some more ropey defending from the champions to pull a goal back.
But Fashion Sakala’s late header sealed victory for van Bronckhorst’s team.
The Rangers boss said: “We controlled the game and in the first 20-25 minutes scored two goals.
“We knew the chances would come in that manner, with Scott making his runs into the spaces.
“The first goal was excellent and the second goal was also really good in terms of possession from our side and a great shot by Joe.
“After that we lost our intent a little bit.
“We were a bit sloppy in our speed of play and going to 2-1 made it a real game.
“In the second half we controlled the game more and didn’t give any chances away.
“But if you have so much control of the game you have to make sure you finish the game as early as possible.
“I think we kept Livingston in the game for too long until Sakala’s header from the corner.
“That was a relief for us to make it 3-1 and then we kept the ball and didn’t give them any chance to play any more.”