The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Consistency call as Rankin sets foot in uncharted territory
Former Dundee United midfielder and Falkirk debutant John Rankin admitted he had entered uncharted territory in Saturday’s cup defeat, at the age of 33.
He said: “I have never been involved in a game with three penalties in one half of football If that’s the precedent they’ve set, it has to be maintained for the rest of the season.
“It can’t just be for the start of the season or for certain games, it has to be across the board.
“But I don’t think we deserved anything from the game because St Johnstone were the better team.”
Rankin said he endured a summer of uncertainty after leaving Tannadice.
“I’m delighted to be back in and playing because it has been frustrating. You try to switch off, but your mind does wander towards what you’re coming back to,” he said.
“The manager, Peter Houston, was good. He phoned and asked if I wanted to come in and do some sessions.
“I kept my fitness up doing that, although it was frustrating when the boys were leading up to games and I was spending time in the gym.
“It’s not been great but I’m signed now and it’s great to be back out there playing again.”
Falkirk boss Houston conceded there were arguments for two of the spot-kicks to have been given, but described the third decision as a “joke”.
Houston, whose side slumped to a second Betfred Cup group defeat, said: “The first was a definite penalty and we have no complaints. “The second was a maybe. “But the third was a joke. It was a poor decision. They were holding each other.”
Houston was also aggrieved that the Bairns were not awarded a spot-kick of their own by referee Bobby Madden.
He said: “Steven Anderson came right over the top of John Baird and he didn’t win the ball. Maybe Bairdie went down easily but Anderson committed a foul by going over the top of him.
“We are looking for consistency.
“But I’m not going to say over the piece St Johnstone didn’t deserve to win. They didn’t carve us open, but at set plays our defence looked ropey and we have to go away and work on that,” he added.
If that’s the precedent they’ve set, it has to be maintained for the rest of the season. JOHN RANKIN