THERE are few sounds in sport more arresting than a group of supporters booing one of their own.
That was the fate Rangers skipper Lee McCulloch endured during yesterday's Championship encounter with Falkirk. For a while, after being outmuscled by John Baird in the lead-up to the goal which gave the Scottish Cup finalists a two-goal lead, his every touch was sparking abuse prolonged and vocal enough that others felt moved to start cheering to compensate.
Typically, the player himself almost had the last laugh. Pushed up as an auxiliary striker, it took a world class Jamie MacDonald save to prevent his header delivering a point for his side. Whilst salvation did arrive, courtesy of Nicky Law, in the fifth minute of injury time, the Ibrox side still have much to do if they are to save themselves from another season in Scotland's second tier.
"I was obviously very sad and sickened to hear it at the time," said manager Stuart McCall. "But what pleased me was that after a couple of minutes the supporters then turned that on its head and drowned out the booing in the end with claps. That's what we need as a club - togetherness. It doesn't matter what happened weeks ago, months ago, today. It's all about next week and the future. And the players will need the supporters as much as the supporters need the players."
This is the business end of the season and for Rangers it is risky business. While the identity of the championship's three play-off contenders is now known, the order remains up for grabs going into Saturday's last day of the season. The Ibrox side must win at Champions Hearts, and hope Falkirk prove equally stubborn opponents in the grudge match against last week's cup semi-final foes Hibs as they were here. Alternatively, their play-off plans will become an endurance-sapping six games in 22 days, starting against Queen of the South, a team who currently have an 8-5 aggregate against them.
"It's a blow but we thought we'd have to go to Tynecastle and win and we still have to do that," said McCall. "Two weeks ago it looked like we'd do it. Now Hibs are in pole position. But our focus doesn't change."
Football is a game which tests the emotions but they were equally raw for both teams yesterday. From the euphoria of last week at Hampden, this week Peter Houston's side kissed goodbye to their play-off hopes, their best efforts rendered hopeless by Queen of the South victory against Dumbarton. Courtesy of the eccentricities of referee Euan Anderson's timekeeping, they didn't even have the consolation of a brave win at Ibrox to reflect on.
"There were five subs and the physio was on once," said Houston. "But I don't know where he got the injury time from, because he told our players there was 90 seconds to go and we went up the park three times. We almost had to play until Rangers scored."
This was a youthful-looking Rangers outfit. Ryan Hardie, fresh from two goals in his first start against Dumbarton last week, was retained up front, alongside teenager Tom Walsh and 20-year-old Andy Murdoch. A year and a day from the passing of Sandy Jardine, the club's fans paid tribute to the club legend with a minute's applause in the second minute.
Hardie's gait can appear ungainly at times, and his wiry build will still fill out, but there is something about this footballer which suggests we will be hearing a lot more of him. Yesterday he was merely unfortunate to find Jamie MacDonald had carried on his cup semi-final form.
The goalkeeper did well to tip over a left foot strike from close in, then saved with his feet after good work from Marius Zaliukas. Walsh also had a deflected drive which ended up on the roof of the net.
Like last week, Falkirk grew to their task. It helped to have John Baird, and his cup-tied former Queen of the South pal Mark Kerr, playing as if this was their cup final. When Luke Leahy drilled over a cross, Baird whacked in a drive ferocious enough to see Cammy Bell require treatment after saving.
Zaliukas sustained an ankle injury and was kept in at half time but Rangers continued to surrender possession in dangerous areas. Will Vaulks benefited from one mistake to go close, before Baird ignored all manner of traffic in the six yard box to steer in a Sibbald corner.
The small band of Falkirk fans had more to celebrate four minutes later. Baird was too quick and strong for McCulloch on half way, and ignored all the protests to lay Tom Taiwo in for an easy finish.
It might have been over there and then had Taiwo made it three, but Rangers found more in their legs. Walsh struck a post and a McGregor header forced another fine pawing save from MacDonald, before Haris Vuckic found space at the near post to head in a Nicky Law corner. Peter Houston had pointed at his watch a good few times to no avail before the Englishman popped up with the equaliser. This is squeaky bum time for Rangers all right.
Rangers (4-4-2): Bell; McGregor, McCulloch, Zaliukas (Crawford 45), Wallace; Vuckic, Murdoch, Law, Walsh; Hardie (Clark 66), Miller (Shiels 62).
Subs not used: Robinson, Mohsni, Hutton, Gallagher
Falkirk (4-2-3-1): MacDonald; Muirhead, McCracken, Grant, Leahy; Vaulks, Kerr; Alston, Taiwo, Sibbald (Dick 84); Baird (Bia Bi 80).
Subs not used: Bowman, Cooper, Smith, Maybury, Morgan
Booked: Falkirk: Taiwo 67.
Referee: E Anderson
Attendance: 35,566
Man of the match: N Law
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