The Light Blues saved their best for last in the post split but it was too little, too late
14:31, 16 May 2026Updated 14:32, 16 May 2026
Rangers’ Youssef Chermiti celebrates scoring with Nasser Djiga
Anger in October, adulation in April – then apathy in May.
That just about sums up Rangers’ three trips to Falkirk this season.
This end-of-season dead rubber might have had a glut of goals, just like the last time Danny Rohl’s side were here.
Last month, Gers were rampant in a 6-3 win and were some people’s tips for the Premiership title.
But what a difference 35 days can make. This time out, it wouldn’t have mattered if they’d scored 10 against the Bairns. In the end they won 5-2.
The travelling Rangers support were disinterested in a performance and result that meant little.
Their main concern is what happens next with their manager.
This was the venue for Russell Martin’s infamous last stand.
On Rohl’s first trip here, the fans were singing his name. But not now.
Each of their five goals was treated with little more than a cheer from the Rangers end.
Rangers’ Djeidi Gassama celebrates
Rohl is expected to still be in charge for the start of next season after picking up his first post-split victory against John McGlynn’s men.
A Youssef Chermiti hat-trick, Djeidi Gassama’ strike and a Thelo Aasgaard penalty secured the points, with Falkirk responding through Jack Butland’s OG and a Calvin Miller spot kick.
Rohl relief
Rangers gaffer Rohl must just be relieved to know what that winning feeling is like again.
There might have been nothing at stake in this game, in terms of the league.
But after suffering four defeats on the spin for the first time since 1983, the German coach just needed a victory.
No manager has ever lost five on the bounce as Gers boss so that was a record he’d have been determined to keep intact.
His team still looked vulnerable defensively. A backline without departing skipper James Tavernier did nothing to inspire confidence against the Bairns.
But at least at the other end, Rangers were a threat against a team who were already on the beach.
There’s plenty for Rohl to ponder over the summer and he’s got a lot of making up to do with supporters – some of whom have already decided he should be out of a job.
This result won’t fool anyone but for him personally, it was vital to get back to winning ways.
Useful Youssef
He’s been heavily criticised at times this season for his lack of goals but with a brace here, Youssef Chermiti took his Rangers tally to 15 in his debut season
And there’s no doubt the £8 million striker will be a pivotal player for the club next season.
The Portuguese ace has been linked with a move to FC Porto but the Ibrox club will be keen to hold on to him.
He’s not the finished article by any stretch but he’s proved in big games this term that he can produce special moments.
This might have been a dead rubber but he came up with a trio of cracking finishes.
The first, an instinctive toe-poke inside the box that beat Nicky Hogarth – then his second was a piece of brilliance.
After controlling the ball on his chest he unleashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner from 20 yards.
He sealed the treble with a powerful downward header at the back post just after half-time.
Chermiti is still only 21 and if Rohl’s still in charge, he’ll be desperate to have him on board for the new campaign.
Jittery Jack
Falkirk’s goal to make the score 2-1 pretty much summed up this Rangers side and their season.
After Chermiti’s early double, they were on easy street in the game, absolutely cruising against a Bairns side who hadn’t got started.
It looked like being the most stress-free afternoon of the season so what do Rangers do? Go and throw one in at the other end.
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland after his blunder
Tuur Rommens’ back pass to Butland should have been comfortably dealt with by the experienced keeper.
But he took a poor touch and before he knew it, the ball was in the net to allow the home side back in the game.
It was a howler from Butland and it raised more question marks over his future as Gers’ number one.
They’ve been linked with a move for Pierce Charles at Sheffield Wednesday and – with Rohl admitting the leadership group within the squad will be ripped up this summer – it feels like Butland might face a fight for his place.
Call for Cavenagh
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh, along with Paraag Marathe and chief executive Jim Gillespie were in the stands at Falkirk for the club’s last game of a dismal campaign.
But at half-time, they took the unusual step of walking around the ground to the Rangers end and speaking to travelling supporters.
The trio spent 15 minutes chatting with fans and listening to their gripes from a campaign that promised so much but delivered nothing.
Rohl’s future will no doubt have been mentioned, as well as the Martin fiasco, the club’s recruitment and Premiership title collapse.
It will certainly have given Cavenagh food for thought going into the summer, when he’s expected to back Rohl and go again.
He’s under pressure to get the big decisions right because far too many went wrong this term.
And that means there will be no room for error when it comes to Rohl and his team at the start of next season.
Not many club owners go into the away end for talks so Cavenagh should be praised for at least listening to his customers.
Whether it will influence what calls he makes, that remains to be seen
Beaten Bairns
Falkirk have enjoyed a terrific first campaign back in the top flight, finishing in sixth spot in the Premiership.
The job McGlynn has done with this group of players has been nothing short of remarkable.
So we should maybe cut them a bit of slack for looking shattered at the end of a long season.
Early on here, they played like they had their minds already on a beach somewhere for their summer holidays – and Rangers made them pay for defensive slackness.
Their passing was all over the place for a spell but they stayed in the game through Butland’s own goal then Miller’s spot kick.
McGlynn wasn’t happy at half-time and made three changes.
Even though there was nothing on the line, the manager has set standards here which weren’t being met in the first 45.
They improved after the break despite losing a fourth goal but by the end, they looked drained and who could blame them?
They’ve been a brilliant addition to the Premiership and will go again next term.