Falkirk 0-1 Rangers: Rickety Rangers ride their luck

IF RANGERS in the days before the seasonal opener appeared to be a suitable case for treatment, their slim victory over Falkirk should be regarded as more of a palliative than a cure. Nobody who witnessed the manner in which it was achieved could reasonably conclude that their problems are suddenly at an end.

As a relief from the pain and anxiety of the elimination from Europe by FBK Kaunas, the three points secured by Andrius Velicka's second-half goal will surely be welcome, but, until future events prove otherwise, followers of the Ibrox side are likely to be left with the uneasy feeling that it may be temporary.

In any assessment of a team's prospects at this embryo stage of a long campaign, of course, allowances have to be made in a number of aspects. In the case of Walter Smith's team, the attempt at analysis is complicated by the peculiarity of their experiences in the week preceding this initial outing.

First-night nerves are not confined to the theatre. They also thrive at the start of any major sporting competition, even in the most formidable of competitors. For Smith's players, the dread of another humiliation even before the after-effects of the previous one had subsided would raise the normal skittishness to a potentially crippling level.

There was, in addition, the matter of personnel, the Rangers manager's selection difficulties intensified by the absence of a number of regular first choices through injury and suspension. As he stressed afterwards, a number of areas of his team featured players trying partnerships for the first time.

In attack, Kris Boyd and Velicka; in central defence, Kirk Broadfoot and the newcomer, Madjid Bougherra; and, on the left of midfield, Kevin Thomson and another recent signing, Kyle Lafferty. Smith surely made a legitimate point when he specified the novelty of the Broadfoot-Bougherra axis.

"When you consider that Carlos (Cuellar, injured) and Davie (Weir, suspended) were what you could call the bedrock of our defence throughout last season, you know it's not easy for a completely new pairing just to get it right straight away," said Smith. "But, because of injuries and the new players we have brought in, that's how it's going to be for a while, until things become more settled."

Even sympathetic understanding of the apprehension and unfamiliarity that would act as hindrances, however, would not be sufficient to dispel the impression that Rangers are a long way from the kind of intimidating and irresistible force that wins championships. Or that they were very fortunate to escape the Falkirk Stadium with a victory.

Such an outcome would have looked virtually impossible had Michael Higdon converted the 49th-minute penalty awarded to the home side when Steven Whittaker tripped Kevin McBride as the latter was on the point of attempting to exploit a very promising shooting opportunity.

In truth, Higdon should not have been allowed to take the kick. He had been having a poor game, squandering an earlier chance and frequently passing the ball to opponents, in the process turning his own team's attacks into counter-thrusts by the visitors. It seemed obvious that his sharpness, timing and co-ordination were not in good order.

Few in the ground would be surprised when he sent the ball weakly towards Allan McGregor, who, literally, had a more awkward back-pass from Christian Dailly to deal with in the first half.

John Hughes's forgiving nature ensured that Higdon would not be condemned in public, but, in absolving the big striker, the Falkirk manager betrayed his own disappointment with a tag line. "The big man was brave enough to take the kick, so I won't hold it against him," said Hughes. "I do wish, though, that he had put his laces through the ball instead of trying to place it."

Higdon's general clumsiness, indeed, was a depressing counterpoint to the precise passing and intelligent play of many of his teammates, including McBride, John Stewart, Patrick Cregg and the veterans, Russell Latapy and Jackie McNamara. But, as Hughes conceded, Falkirk are seriously weakened by a lack of ruthlessness in forward areas. Pleasing to watch, but, for their supporters, immensely frustrating in their failure to take advantage of the space they often create.

"There was only one thing made the difference today," said Hughes. "Belief. With teams like Rangers, no matter how they are playing, they always remain dangerous and they showed that when they got their goal, despite us having most of the possession. There are two words my players have to concentrate on – belief and conviction. If they can get that, and I'm sure they can, they'll be okay.

"Our style is obvious and I think we play the game properly, but, once again, we'll take the plaudits and the pats on the back for the way we play, but we'll still take nothing from the game."

Velicka ensured another losing day for the home side when he enjoyed a tap-in from three yards after Lafferty had received Boyd's header and taken the ball past goalkeeper Robert Olejnik on the right before delivering a neat cross into the goalmouth.

Hughes, his players and Falkirk's supporters are entitled to view the event as a missed opportunity – they're unlikely in the coming months to meet a Rangers team in such a depression. Smith and his players will have enjoyed the gratifying tingle of the golfer who has just turned what looked a certain bogey at the first into a birdie. They will also realise that such breaks tend not to hang around for another 17 holes.

Man of the match: John Stewart (Falkirk)

Having enjoyed the bulk of possession, Falkirk had more contenders than Rangers, and Stewart takes the award for the consistent problems he brought to the visitors' defence, thrusting into forward areas from midfield, the ball under control, and causing widespread alarm.