Nobody likes to finish second.

As soon as those competitive Ancient Greeks started thundering around primitive running tracks in the scuddy at the first Olympic Games, the phrase 'runner-up' swiftly became as commonly used in the general bletherings of the time as 'democracy', 'trigonometry' and 'don't you think Acanthus of Sparta should cover his particulars with a loin cloth?'

The best of the rest, second fiddle? Call it what you like, there's no great joy in being the chumps behind the champs. Just ask the Varsity Boat Race teams. As the SPFL Championship campaign draws to a conclusion, though, it seems second place is as valuable as a vault of Faberge Eggs. Rangers had it but have now lost it to Hibernian who will have it going into the final round of fixtures this weekend but could easily lose it again depending on results. By claiming that runners-up spot behind the all-conquering Hearts, Rangers or Hibs would avoid a perilous play-off quarter-final with a highly dangerous Queen of the South side. But even then, there is still a power of work to be done in order to secure promotion to the top tier. There will be plenty more twists and turns in this tumultuous tale.

At Ibrox on Saturday, there were jitters, jeers and joy for the Rangers faithful as they watched their side come from two goals down to salvage a point from an eventful encounter with Scottish Cup finalists Falkirk. Nicky Law's last gasp equaliser was so deep into injury time, the janny was jangling his keys and was about to lock up Ibrox for the night but Rangers's destiny is now out of their own hands as Hibernian moved back into second place by a slender one point margin. Rangers travel to Hearts on the final day while Hibs face a tricky encounter with an impressive Falkirk team that has not been beaten by the Edinburgh side this season and struck another blow the other weekend when they triumphed in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.

Of course, most of the focus is on these two sides from either end of the M8 but those quiet achievers down south could be set to make a considerable noise. Tom Taiwo, the Falkirk midfielder who put the Bairns 2-0 up on Saturday and provoked much anguish and even a spell of booing aimed at Rangers captain Lee McCulloch from the home punters, believes it will be a case of write off Queens at your peril. "It's a tough one but maybe Queens could go all the way," said the 25-year-old as he mulled over the runners and riders. "There's a lot of pressure on Rangers and Hibs and Queens can play with a freedom. They won here at Ibrox and at Easter Road. They make their place a fortress and then they are not afraid to go away and come to places like this. I think they will be a real force to be reckoned with. It's hard to deal with the pressure and the expectancy for Rangers and Hibs. You saw today when we had a good spell and we nearly scored and it brought an anxiety on in the crowd and that can seep down to the players."

Taiwo and his Falkirk team-mates certainly gave Rangers the heebie jeebies at times with a patient, probing and purposeful display that left the natives furiously restless. John Baird gave them the lead on 57 minutes before Taiwo put the finishing touches to a flowing move four minutes later. Rangers, ragged and sluggish for long spells, rallied at the death. Tom Walsh clattered a post before Haris Vuckic got one back to set up a fraught finale. Jamie MacDonald, the Falkirk keeper, pulled off another superb save but there was still time for one last scramble and Law plundered a point amid the frenzy. The play-offs promise to be even more fevered, whatever position Rangers finish in. "That is the worst thing about the result, it is now out of our hands," said Walsh. "We have to be confident and show no fear in the play-offs. If we do that hopefully we will be back where we belong."