FALKIRK ... 1 MATCH REPORT: RANGERS ... 1
Bold Bairns: John Baird hails Falkirk scorer Rory Loy (right) after his equaliser in last night’s Championship clash at Westfield
IT would take a brave man to predict how the final chapter in the story of Rangers’ turbulent season will unfold. Mercifully though, with one or two minor exceptions, the soundtrack to this latest instalment of the footballing saga was at least what we should expect in a civilised country in this day and age.
By and l arge, the travelling support — under the watchful eye of both the footballing authorities and the law of the land — stuck to the approved song book. Not that they had too much to sing about.
Yet again, Kenny McDowall’s men were second best in a game when there was absolutely no margin for error.
Darren McGregor fired the visitors in front against the run of play on 20 minutes but a clinical headed equaliser by Rory Loy just two minutes later was no more than the home side deserved.
For Rangers, both the result and performance were further steps backwards. Hearts are already racing certainties to claim first place in the Championship but this again raises serious question marks over the Ibrox’s side’s ability to see off Hibs for second place.
Seeking to build on last week’s victory at Raith Rovers, McDowall made three changes to his starting line-up. Lee Wallace, Lee McCulloch and Marius Zaliukas were omitted, with Bilel Mohsni — fresh from the African Nations Cup — Steven Smith and Darren McGregor restored.
Unsurprisingly, gi ven t he howitzer he scored in Fife and the inking of a new contract this week, Andrew Murdoch’s place in midfield was assured.
Unbeaten in eight games going into this one, Peter Houston’s unchanged line-up was taken as read.
Looking to bolster their own chances of gaining promotion via the play-offs, Falkirk started with much greater purpose.
Loy, the former Rangers trainee who has now signed a precontract with Dundee, evaded the close attentions of Sebastian Faure down the left.
His centre caught Mohsni and McGregor on their heels but — alas for Falkirk — John Baird arrived in the box just a moment too late.
Nicky Law’s lapse in concentration 10 yards from the half-way line resulted in Craig Sibbald picking out Baird lurking just inside the box.
Only the timely intervention of McGregor prevented Lee Robinson being called into early action.
Baird, the man whose goal condemned Rangers to defeat in last year’s Challenge Cup Final, was like a magnet to the ball initially.
Fortunately f or Rangers, McGregor just about had his number and followed the earlier interception with a vital, meaty block.
Truthfully, there was l i ttle warning to the visitors going ahead on 20 minutes.
Law’s free-kick from the left was just about the first time the Bairns’ rearguard had been stretched but their response was poor.
As the ball cannoned between the legs of blue shirted defenders, McGregor stepped back a yard and waited for it to break his way.
His fierce low strike ripped through a forest of legs, with Jamie MacDonald in the home goal unsighted.
Falkirk were right to feel aggrieved yet they channelled their complaints in exactly the right manner by levelling within 120 seconds.
It was a goal of some quality: Baird, predictably, was its architect down the left. Faure’s attempt to block the cross could be filed under non-existent.
Loy was unchallenged on the six-yard line but still had plenty to do. He couldn’t have placed his header better, however, and Robinson was rooted to the spot as it went in via the far post.
Remarkably, Rangers could have immediately re-established their advantage. Law’s cross found Kris Boyd hovering at the far post.
The striker’s header looked to be creeping in under the bar until MacDonald pawed it over the top for a corner.
Falkirk continued to make most of the running. Will Vaulks ended a sustained spell of home pressure by sending a low drive from 20 yards a foot wide of the post.
The ubiquitous Baird saw one cross blocked by McGregor and his follow-up effort float above the heads of a handful of team-mates.
Given how the first half had gone, the sound of Willie Collum’s whistle was more welcome for the visiting fans than the home faithful.
Rangers were brighter after the turn-around without ever t hreatening t o dominate. Falkirk had a half- hearted appeal for a penalty turned down when Loy tumbled over Faure’s outstretched leg but it would have been extremely harsh.
The ebb and flow of a decent contest was interrupted by t r eatment f or both Kyle Hutton and Tom Taiwo after a nasty clash of heads but fortunately both were able to continue.
Baird predictably faded but reminded the visitors he was still on the field with a fine first touch on the edge of the box and a shot that Robinson had to watch all the way as it scuttled past the post.
Rangers’ wastefulness in the final third, epitomised by Stevie Smith’s r e peated i nability to f i nd his man, increasingly brought the wrath of the Light Blue legions.
It was the much-maligned defender who was in the right place at t he r i ght t i me, however, to prevent Loy’s shot hitting the target with 20 minutes remaining.
Kenny Miller and David Templeton were thrown on to try and scrape the win in the latter staged.
The quick feet of the former Hearts man bought a foul on the edge of the Bairns box with Mark Kerr picking up the first caution of the night into the bargain.
The upshot of a promising set-play — a wild slice by Boyd — rather summed up Rangers’ night as two more points were dropped.