As the anticipated icing on a celebratory cake, it took some time for the ingredients of this match to blend successfully.

Ally McCoist had been concerned beforehand that a poor display would mar the pomp of Rangers' 140th anniversary, and for a time some lax play was enough to keep the manager on edge. When Stirling Albion hit a post with the score still at 1-0, McCoist could only think to himself, "surely not".