If ever a Rangers match in the Scottish Premiership was a dead rubber, it was the match against Falkirk. Rangers finally win Split match in complete dead rubber. We have covered this in a previous entry, but we remain bewildered by the intensity of how little this match actually meant.
The Meaningless Split Match
As we alluded to before, usually dead rubbers at the end of the season are as a result of either Celtic having won the league many weeks ago, or indeed ourselves. The split is usually a period during which different tactics are tested, different players are tested, and different things are tested in preparation for pre season and the new campaign coming up in August, and of course, the European qualifiers.
But that was not the case at Falkirk. That was the deadest of rubbers that we have ever seen. A manager who does not know if he is actually going to be staying, but is giving all the lip service alleging that he will be.
Uncertainty Everywhere
A coach, a chairman, who is currently carrying out an internal review to decide if the coach should remain. Departures for sure of eight or nine players confirmed already. The returns of around 10 loan players who have been absolutely diabolical and none were made permanent.
Rangers had an absolute dead rubber in Falkirk because, of course, even Falkirk were not playing for anything. Their position was final, their goal difference was as good as final as well, and there was not even pride because neither team could do a single thing.
A Match That Meant Nothing
Of course, Rangers ran out winners thanks to goals. Yes, goals. We will say no more because this was the least relevant split match we think we have ever seen.
With Rohl having lost the first four, this one did not matter in the slightest. And yes, he finally got his split victory, but to suggest that a 20% win rate in the split is good enough is probably overselling it a little bit.
Nothing At Stake
But no, we cannot ever recall any time in the past where a split match meant as little as this one. Even in the last one against Hibs, the visitors to Ibrox themselves had something to play for.
In the end, they lost out on that European spot, having finished fifth, quite rightly too, because Motherwell deserved their fourth place finish. But they still, at the time, had something to play for going into that match.
Falkirk had nothing and neither did Rangers. Rangers finally win Split match in complete dead rubber was as good as a waste of time as we have ever seen in any football sense.