Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha under pressure after his side blow injury-time lead to draw with Kilmarnock

PEDRO CAIXINHA’S position as Rangers manager looks increasingly vulnerable after his side somehow blew an injury-time lead over Kilmarnock.

Caixinha had demanded a response after accusing his players of embarrassing the club with their Betfred Cup semi-final defeat by Motherwell on Sunday but they failed to build on Jamie Holt’s 44th-minute opener and Killie created a series of chances in the final quarter.

And Rangers spectacularly mismanaged the game in stoppage-time. Daniel Candeias saw a poor spot-kick saved by Jamie MacDonald, although he was not helped by a long delay which saw his team-mate, Ryan Jack, sent off for appearing to push, knee and possibly even headbutt Kirk Broadfoot.

MacDonald then began a counter-attack which ended with Chris Burke converting Stephen O’Donnell’s cross to stun Ibrox and seal a 1-1 draw which saw Rangers drop below Motherwell into fourth place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Caixinha watched the action from the stand, a few seats away from chairman Dave King, after accepting a one-match ban following his dismissal at Hampden following a clash with Fir Park counterpart Stephen Robinson.

The Portuguese was a much more restrained figure after the match, saying he was happy with the players’ efforts.

Caixinha claimed he was not worried over his job but, when asked for a message to supporters, the 46-year-old offered little of substance to reassure them that improvement was on its way.

“I say to the fans that they are the most loyal fans in the world,” he said. “They don’t deserve to pass through these situations.

“As I tell you all the time, we work for them. I’m more disappointed than them because, besides being Rangers manager, I am also a Rangers fan. I’m blue inside.

“When I come to represent one club, I represent it with every single thing I have to give, with my passion, my knowledge and my work.

“I’m doubly disappointed because I’m a fan and a manager at the same time but I’m strong. I’m strong enough to take things forward and always look to put things in the right place.”

But Rangers will be far from full strength when they go into Saturday’s clash with Hearts at BT Murrayfield.

Fabio Cardoso, Lee Wallace, Carlos Pena, Niko Kranjcar and Jordan Rossiter were missing through injury against Killie and Graham Dorrans went off with an ankle strain. Both Jack and Bruno Alves face suspensions.

Kenny Miller’s unexplained exile from the first-team squad continued and 20-year-old Aaron Nemane and 18-year-old Jamie Barjonas were on the pitch as Rangers toiled in the closing stages. Holt, who has been sidelined by Caixinha for much of the season, was arguably their best player against Killie.