Nobody said it was going to be easy, and Rangers certainly made it look difficult at times, but they remain within a point of the Scottish Premiership summit after pulling off a stunning comeback at The Falkirk Stadium.
The fans had seen this movie before: a title on the line and a team devoid of creativity, urgency and leadership as they went two goals down in a first half that the hosts dominated. A late, first-half Tochi Chukwuani goal halved the arrears at the break and gave Rangers hope where there seemed to be little.
Bojan Miovski was introduced at the break and led the second-half blitz with aplomb as Danny Rohl watched his side score five on their way to a 6-3 win.
Rangers Break Unwanted Record
Rangers arrived at The Falkirk Stadium having watched Hearts and Celtic both chalk up wins 24 hours previously, particularly daunting given that all three title contenders had won on the same weekend on only one previous occasion this season.
Break that unwanted anomaly they did, however, and they head into a mid-season trip to Spain on a high, knowing that five more wins will secure a first Premiership title in five years.
The news that Ryan Naderi was, in the words of Rohl, "not good" cast questions over who was providing the attacking impetus at the top end of the pitch for Rangers. In a move away from his favoured 4-2-2-2, the German opted for Youssef Chermiti as the focal point of a quartet that included Mikey Moore, Thelo Aasgaard and Djeidi Gassama.
Miovski once again had to contend with a spot on the bench, despite adding to his 11 goals in all competitions last season and many calling for the North Macedonian to be given a starting berth.
Rangers' Bojan Miovski (centre) celebrates scoring side's fourth goal (Image: Andrew Milligan)
Those doubters may have been given credence when Chermiti latched on to an Aasgaard chipped pass from a cleverly worked free kick that set him through on goal. To the disbelief of the three stands, he managed to fire over; however, on closer inspection, the forward seemed to have just strayed offside, perhaps to his benefit as his blushes were retrospectively spared.
Rangers' first half-hour could perhaps be epitomised when they did find themselves with a three-vs-two streaming up the park, and Chermiti could only pass straight to the feet of a covering Bairns defender.
When hope was fading to a flicker, the visitors got a first-half lifeline. After delivering an uncertain midfield display, Chukwuani got his name on the scoresheet at a vital moment. After Aasgaard's low strike and then Gassama's back-post looping header both came back off the post, the Dane was on hand to volley in from close range. A lengthy VAR check ensued after claims the ball had drifted out of play, but it was at best inconclusive and the deficit was halved at the break.
After seeing the worst of Chermiti in the first period, the Portuguese goalscorer returned after the break, levelling the score just two minutes into the half. Joined up top at the break by Bojan Miovski, he looked immediately more at ease. Raskin split the defence with an incisive ball to Gassama. The winger showed impressive perseverance to stay on his feet under pressure and deliver the ball across for the Rangers No.9 to touch home in composed fashion.
The game then completely turned on its head as the revitalised Rangers took the lead. Raskin went from provider to scorer, burying a low effort past Scott Bain.
🔵 “Youssef Chermiti scores again.”
It’s 5-3 to Danny Rohl’s men after another strike from their No.9. pic.twitter.com/hDQABbrfBC— The Rangers Review (@RangersReview55) April 12, 2026
Whatever Rohl said at the break obviously had the desired effect as Rangers added yet another minutes later. Raskin again was at the heart of the attack, picking out Miovski who turned home his 12th of the campaign in a Rangers shirt.
With the gap back at one, Chermiti once again was in the right place at the right time to add a fifth of the afternoon. Gassama saw his initial effort blocked before it fell to the forward, who thundered in goal number 11 for the campaign.
There was still time for Miovski to tap in an Oliver Atman cross to put the gloss on what could have been a very difficult day.
Falkirk Capitalise on Rangers' Poor Start
Nerves are inevitable at this stage of the season, both in the stands and on the park. Rohl's side never looked comfortable in the early exchanges as they tried to build out from the back. Calvin Miller opened up his legs and gave James Tavernier a taste of what he would be in for down the left flank, with the 28-year-old burning the Rangers skipper for pace.
The start that the away fans feared came to fruition when Ben Broggio continued his scoring touch, making it two in two after just six minutes. Nasser Djiga and Tochi Chukwuani found themselves in a mix-up, with the former stepping him up the park. That allowed the already menacing Miller space to run in behind as Falkirk found themselves with a three-vs-two in the blink of an eye. He picked out the Aston Villa loanee in the middle of the box, where he composed himself and slotted beyond Jack Butland.
Nico Raskin played a key role in turning the game (Image: Andrew Milligan)
The nightmare scenario started to become a reality when Yeats added a second for the hosts four minutes before the half-hour mark. Chukwuani put his side under pressure in trying to play the ball out and they failed to clear their lines. This was not a goal gifted to Falkirk by any means, though, as the 21-year-old had plenty to do from the edge of the area; his touch was perfect before rifling his effort into the bottom right-hand corner. The home fans lapped it up as the away end had that familiar sinking feeling.
McGlynn's outfit had the title chasers on the ropes and they could have been in again had Jayden Meghoma not taken a booking for a cynical foul on Miller when the winger looked set to lead the breakaway.
For all their first-half dominance, Falkirk struggled to cope with a rejuvenated Rangers, but they were awarded a route back into the game when Tavernier took down Filip Lissah in the box. Miller stepped up and dispatched it, despite Butland getting a hand to the powerful shot.
Rangers Need Two Up Top
Chermiti is an enigma, wrapped in a puzzle, inside a riddle — and trying to predict what version of the front man will turn up is a fool's errand. However, what is becoming clearer by the passing week is that he is not a man to lead the line on his own. His game has been aided tenfold by the January arrival of Naderi, and in the first half it was evident he missed a partner.
Chermiti scored a vital equaliser just after the break (Image: Andrew Milligan)
The introduction of Miovski at the break sparked a revival of Rangers, scoring four unanswered goals in the process, with both himself and his mercurial Portuguese partner bagging two after the break. Somehow, the £10 million man now has a goals per minute ration of 1 per 138, the most prolific in the league.
While the North Macedonian is hitting form at the right time, building on his vital strike against Dundee United last week, his ability to unlock the best in Chermiti may well be his biggest asset to this side.
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