Bojan Miovski was disappointed but not disheartened. Danny Rohl said he was very close to starting at Falkirk but would again be consigned to the bench. His message? Be ready, we will likely need you.
That prediction was realised at half-time in Falkirk. With Rangers trailing 2-1, handed a lifeline late in the first half after Tochi Chukwuani halved a deficit it looked like the hosts could extend, Rohl made a change. He wanted to stop long balls at source by partnering Youssef Chermiti with Miovski and increase his side's presence at the top end of the park. The change had the desired effect.
The visitors would score five second-half goals with two apiece from either striker. Chermiti equalised and scored a fifth, while Miovski added a fourth and sixth. After scoring a clinching goal against Dundee United last week at Ibrox, the North Macedonian forward seems to be coming into form at just the right time.
"Every player needs to be ready. I came on in the second half and helped the team," he said, speaking after the game.
"In this kind of situation [at half time] when you need to stay calm. There is still 45 minutes to play and, of course, we can turn on the game. We just needed to stay calm. We saw what we did wrong in the first half, created more chances in the second half, and, of course, scored.
"I'm always ready. If I start or come in the second half or come for five minutes, I'm always ready to give my all. It doesn't matter how many minutes I play."
Chermiti was enlivened by the presence of a striker next to him after the break. After Ryan Naderi was likely ruled out for the season last week, some believe that Rohl should opt for his two strikers from the start in every game. Does Miovski favour playing with a partner too?
He replied: "At my previous clubs, I played with two; I played alone. So, for me, it doesn't matter. Of course, it's helpful when you play with two strikers.
"It's like you have someone close to you who can help you. When you play alone, you are more waiting in the box and waiting for the wingers. But yeah, it's up to the coach to choose who wants to start."
You only need to cast your mind back to Rangers' last visit to the Falkirk stadium as evidence of how far Rohl has taken this squad. Then, a 1-1 draw left them 13 points behind Hearts and now, they're one behind Derek McInnes' men heading into the split.
"The league is like a marathon; it's not one game. So, of course, you have ups and downs. The previous game was not good here," Miovski admitted.
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"Now we are in a situation where we are one point behind. So, as I say, consistency is the key and I think the last couple of games we played really well, and it was positive.
"I think every player believes from day one [that we can win the league]. It's not like now in the moment or the last two games. We believe and, of course, it's a big help for the fans that they support us."
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