No, came the answer again after seven minutes when Jorne Spileers, untroubled by a blue jersey in his midst, side-footed home from a corner. These were the kinds of moments that Rangers survived in previous games. Not now.
And no came the answer again after 20 minutes when Rangers failed with two attempts to clear their box, a hesitancy and incompetence that saw Brandon Michele rifle a third past Butland.
At that point, the only prayers that could have been offered up on Rangers’ behalf would have given thanks to the man above that this team was not going any further in this Champions League.
That it was going to be spared any further humiliation at the hands of Europe’s biggest guns, a lucky escape that was denied one of Martin’s predecessor’s, Giovanni van Bronckhorst – and he lost his job on the back of it.
That Rangers, so early in whatever it is that Martin is trying to do, are not ready for Champions League football is obvious.
They are a burgeoning team in terms of goal threat and have, undoubtedly, discovered a player in Gassama, but they’re a catastrophe at the back. In his brief time in charge, Martin has taken a weak defence, signed loads of players and has somehow made it weaker.
In pulling a goal back in the second half, and almost making it two, they showed the best side of themselves.
They worked hard, they put Brugge under pressure, they created some stuff at one end and avoided further concessions at the other. The whole pursuit resulted in the scoreline becoming less ugly rather than more hopeful.