Youssef Chermiti grabbed a hat-trick as Rangers ended another fruitless Premiership campaign with a 5-2 win at Falkirk.
Four-successive post-split defeats had ended their title hopes and piled pressure on boss Danny Röhl but in a whirlwind start which demonstrated the positives, the 21-year-old striker scored twice in the first six minutes.
However, a horror mistake by Gers goalkeeper Jack Butland from a Tuur Rommens’ pass back a minutes later saw the home side pull a goal back.
Djeidi Gassama restored Rangers’ two-goal lead in the 29th minute, then Calvin Miller scored from the penalty spot in the 44th minute for the Bairns, who refused to submit.
Chermiti completed his hat-trick with a header in the 47th minute as another high-scoring meeting continued – Rangers had won 6-3 at the Falkirk stadium last month – and Thelo Aasgaard scored a fifth from the spot in the 78th minute.
Rangers, who last won the league in 2021, were already consigned to third place and yet another rebuild will occur in the summer, while Falkirk boss John McGlynn and his side can be satisfied with a top-six finish in their first season back in the top flight.
Rangers’ Thelo Aasgaard (R) celebrates with Djeidi Gassama (L)
Röhl: I’ll be a better manager for “emotional rollercoaster” of a season
Rangers head coach Danny Röhl:
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. Four weeks ago here (6-3 win), I was totally convinced that we could win the league, but we couldn’t. The gap was too big and there were too many defeats.
“We were competitive but not good enough in the key moments. That’s what we need to improve. I want to thank the players and staff who have supported me really well.
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl says he will be a better manager next season
“I will take all the information and see what we have to improve. I’ll come back in four weeks with a lot of energy for the new season.
“Rangers is a big job, a demanding job. That’s the reason why I like to be here. I demand a lot from myself and players. After these games, I will be a better manager than before.
“We need to keep a core. It’s important to continue with that but also important to have fresh blood and energy with new players.”
McGlynn: Brilliant Falkirk have raised expectations
Falkirk boss John McGlynn:
“There’s no doubt we will have raised expectation levels, we have done it all season, that’s the nature of the beast.
Falkirk’s Scott Bain applauds the fans at full-time
“It will be difficult but that is the challenge but it’s about getting recruitment right which we have done the last few years.
“It doesn’t get any easier. We know the market where we can go and we’ll try to get the best we can.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
