Early red card caused panic admits Hyndman

EMERSON Hyndman admits Rangers were left hitting the panic button when they were reduced to 10 men after just four minutes against Motherwell.

The match had barely kicked-off at Fir Park when winger Michael O’Halloran got himself sent off for a dangerous stamp on Carl McHugh.

And Hyndman confessed alarm spread through his side as they faced up to the nightmare scenario.

But after holding off an early ’Well onslaught, the numbers were evened up when the Steelmen’s Scott McDonald was also dismissed for a late challenge of his own.

That allowed the Gers to re-establish themselves and they eventually got the 2-0 win with strikes from Kenny Miller and Hyndman in the final 18 minutes.

“There are always nerves when someone is sent off because you’ve got to change your shape sometimes and things can go against you,” said on-loan Bournemouth midfielder Hyndman after making his first Rangers start.

“We regrouped. It took a bit of time in the first half but once we found our feet we did quite well.

“I think everyone panics just a bit going a man down because it was so early on. Away from home it’s very hard to take that and be positive with it because it was a tough thing to cope with.

“But once we realised we could keep possession quite well, especially in their half, and create chances then everyone calmed down. We took control.”

The defeat was another bitter pill for ’Well a week after they blew the chance to knock Rangers out of the cup.

Motherwell defender Stevie Hammell admitted the pain was just as deep and said: “It still hurts. We’re finding a way to lose games just now and we need to get rid of that.

“Defeats don’t get any easier to take. That’s for sure.”

Darren O’Dea.