Falkirk Stadium dey bubble today as Falkirk shock Rangers with early goal wey don shake Scottish Premiership title race. Ben Broggio, wey dey on loan from Aston Villa, just slot home after just five minutes of play, and di game don turn serious from dat moment.
Calvin Miller wey don dey cause wahala for Rangers right from di start, na im provide di assist. Di winger just send low cross wey evade Rangers defenders, and Broggio wey dey unmarked at back post just finish am with composure. James McFadden for Sky Sports talk say na no surprise di goal come from dat left side, because Miller don dey provide assists like dis week in, week out dis season.
Rangers wey dey wear all orange, dem try respond quick quick. Djeidi Gassama get two chances wey Scott Bain block for Falkirk goal. But di real big chance come around 16 minutes when Thelo Aasgaard free-kick find Youssef Chermiti wey steal behind Falkirk defence. Di striker volley over from just 10 yards, but im blushes save by offside flag. Kevin Thomson, former Rangers midfielder for BBC Radio Scotland, talk say Chermiti suppose don put dat ball for back of net, even if e go don disallowed.
Barney Stewart, Falkirk striker wey don score for im last five matches, don dey give Rangers defence serious headache. Di young striker wey journey from university football to Premiership hot property, im just dey run rings around Nasser Djiga and di rest of Rangers backline. Around 19 minutes, Stewart hold off Djiga again and shoot from difficult angle, just few feet wide of far post.
Before di game start, Falkirk manager John McGlynn talk to BBC Scotland say dem know Rangers go put up big fight because dem dey chase league title. “We can play with freedom, but make no mistake, we’re not on di beach,” McGlynn yarn. “Di challenge for us na to try get to Hibs. There’s two teams we’ve not beaten in di league – and that’s Celtic and Rangers.”
For Rangers side, head coach Danny Rohl warn say Falkirk get “nothing to lose” and dem fit play with freedom, wey dey dangerous. Rohl talk say Mikey Moore dey available for di game, but Ryan Naderi no dey available because of injury, and Dujon Sterling dem take out because of Astroturf.
Di game dey important for both teams. Rangers need win to cut gap on table-topping Hearts to just one point after Hearts and Celtic don win yesterday. For Falkirk, dem dey celebrate sealing top-six finish on dia return to top flight, and dem still fit catch Hibs for fifth place wey go open door to European football prospect.
Di atmosphere for Falkirk Stadium dey electric. Amy Canavan for BBC Sport Scotland report say you no fit shift for di feel-good factor around Falkirk. Near enough packed home crowd with only tiny portion of – very quiet – away fans for corner. John McGlynn don really make dis place fortress again.
Rangers come into di game with improving form, dia only defeat for dia latest 11 outings come after penalty shoot out against Celtic for Scottish Cup quarter-final. Di Ibrox side no dey beaten for four away games – six domestically, with dia last defeat come against Porto for Europa League. But Falkirk demself lose just once for five games, even though dat come for dia last home game two weeks ago against St Mirren.
Wind dey blow strong for Falkirk Stadium today, and Andy Newport note say both teams go bear di conditions for mind. Jack Butland for Rangers goal get momentary panic when ball hold up for wind after bounce on plastic pitch. Thankfully for Gers im manage gather, but di blustery breeze fit cause trouble as game dey go on.
Di title race dey go wire and Rangers know dem no fit afford any slip-ups. Falkirk far from ideal fixture for Danny Rohl and im players after John McGlynn don already cause problems for Light Blues dis term. Na dropped points for dis venue wey cost Russell Martin im job for October – with di flop boss require police escort out of Falkirk Stadium.
At dat stage e hard to imagine Glasgow giants find way back into title race – but Rangers fit cut gap on table-topping Hearts to just point again with win. With both Celtic and Jambos secure wins on Saturday, Rohl go know victory dey essential to keep pace with dia rivals for title race wey go last ages.
Barney Stewart talk to Sky Sports about im meteoric rise. “I no fit imagine am before di month start, so I dey very grateful for dis and hopefully e continue,” di striker yarn. “[I don learn] how to play to my strengths and how to use certain aspects to my advantage.”
Di game still dey play as we dey write dis report, with Falkirk still lead 1-0. Rangers dey push forward, but Falkirk defence dey stand strong. Di Bairns dey throw everything at dia defensive duties, and Rangers dey find am hard to break down di dark blue wall.
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