Danny Rohl’s Rangers overcame a hardy Falkirk in what was the first of the colossal 6-match stretch of top-6 teams to decide the Premiership title.
This one was billed as a big one. A tough home side with an excellent record and a solid squad who defied the odds to finish a guaranteed top 6.
Add their plastic pitch, and Rangers weren’t going to have an easy ride at John McGlynn’s side.
And after 40+ minutes, so it proved to be.
2-0 down, struggling for coherence, and Mikey Moore, not only looking flat and injured, but lacking Tuur Rommens behind him to open his creativity.
In short, Rangers were dreadful that first half.
Moore had been Rangers’ star man in recent times, but without the Belgian supporting him, coupled with his knock, he was unable to deliver his usual quality and workrate.
Rangers pulled one back thanks to a contentious VAR call which led to Tochi Chukwuani smashing a ball into the net, and we went in at half time with a bit of work to do.
The second half, however, was just madness.
5 goals, rammies, diabolical defending, and a general blood and thunder approach from both sides saw a lively second 45, one which saw Rangers pull back that deficit and go into a 2-4 lead.
But Falkirk took advantage of James Tavernier’s aging inadequacies and nicked a penalty back.
3-4 had us all uneasy.
Cue Bojan Miovski nabbing a couple to put this one beyond reach and Rangers pulling a massive 3 points out of the fire.
What can we say about this chaotic afternoon?
3 points were vital. It was the first time since January that all of Hearts, Celtic and now Rangers have won in a weekend.
Hearts scored a gigantic title-defining win against the excellent Motherwell, while Celtic were always expected to beat the off-form St Mirren.
The pressure was all on Rangers and we pulled through despite being tested to the maximum.
Danny Rohl did not make things easy for himself. A horrible defensive selection which saw two hapless fullbacks in the berths, while up front saw the flat Thelo Aasgaard start again while Gassama took up the right.
It wasn’t an XI which shone on paper.
And when 2-0 down, it sure wasn’t shining on the pitch. Tavernier had been exposed time and time again, Sterling’s absence hurting Rangers big time in the rearguard.
But the subs helped. Miovski’s arrival alongside Chermiti rather demonstrated that Ryan Naderi’s loss is maybe no big deal – it’s about two up front, not the specific two.
Both strikers scored 2 goals, and while Naderi has worked hard, had he played, there’s little chance Rangers would have nailed 4 goals from the forwards. He’s just not been a 10th as clinical as either Chermiti and Miovski, which is a damning indictment of his finishing rather than a big endorsement of theirs.
And those subs? Well, we wonder why Rohl started with that XI, but the subs fixed a lot. Bringing on Miovski change things hugely, and Moore’s removal showed why he shouldn’t have started.
Either way, Rangers got the 3 points and are very much still in the hunt.
The only issue is Falkirk was the ‘easiest’ of all the matches that remain now.
Next week we face Motherwell at Ibrox, who will be desperate to make amends for their slip at Tynecastle. That will be a brutal one.
Then it’s all the rest of the top 6.
Rohl’s record v the top 6 has marginally improved thanks to recent results. 7 wins of 13. Not breathtaking, but not horrible. McInnes’ Hearts now have 10 wins of 16. A very, very strong record at this level.
Celtic’s was unaffected by beating St Mirren. Still 6 of 10.
The biggest take here?
Rangers and Celtic have more or less identical records against the top 6 teams this season, under current managers. Hearts clearly eclipse both by a bit of a distance.
If they maintain that, they will be champions.
But all 3 teams know the basic rule.
Win your matches, you win the title. Danny Rohl’s Rangers overcame the first stage.
Can Rohl inspire his Rangers to do that?
Time will tell.