Falkirk V Rangers - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Duo out of Falkirk frameFalkirk will again be without Aaron Muirhead and Owain Tudur-Jones as they look to beat Rangers for the first time this season.The pair have both had knee surgery recently and remain sidelined.Alex Cooper is available after a two-game ban with the Bairns looking for the win that will edge them ahead of Queen of the South in the race for a play-off place.Manager Peter Houston said: "We have put a solid unbeaten run together but recognise that we could have done with turning some of the draws into winsRangers are coming here after a good win at Raith Rovers but we will be looking for the three points."Kenny McDowall admits it is difficult to enjoy his role as Rangers caretaker manager and would much prefer Ally McCoist to be in charge.McDowall, like McCoist, is serving a 12-month notice period but unlike the former Rangers striker he remains on coaching duties.The former Celtic reserve coach, who has been at Ibrox since 2007, has this week had to contend with an ongoing boardroom power struggle, controversy over supporters' sectarian chants and fresh disciplinary problems for goalkeeper Steve Simonsen
Yet it has by no means been one of the most turbulent weeks in recent Rangers history.And even a victory over Raith Rovers, which ended a three-game losing streak, appeared to have done little to boost McDowall's mood as he looked ahead to another tough challenge at Falkirk this Friday night as Rangers continue their Scottish Championship promotion challenge."I'm trying to enjoy it but there's a lot to take on board," McDowall said."What I have got to try and do is get the team winning football matches
When I'm doing that, I'm enjoying it."It's not easy, I wouldn't sit here and lie to you, but we have got to do the best we can do
We need to get promotion this year and get Rangers back into the top league."When told his job appeared a difficult task, the former St Mirren striker said: "It must look that way from the outside, it certainly feels that way on the inside
I have never done this before so it's the first time for me, and it's difficult."When asked whether he would prefer to have done the job at a different time, he said: "Not particularly because I came here with Walter Smith and I was very fortunate to be asked to be Ally's assistant
I would much rather Ally was sitting here and not me, to be honest with you."But circumstances have dictated that I'm sitting here talking to you so I just have to get on with it and do the best I can do for the club."McDowall revealed he was in constant contact with McCoist."He is my friend, first and foremost," he said
"And he loves the Rangers as well, so he is always wishing us all the best in every match we have played since he was put on gardening leave."When asked whether the players' mood had been lifted by their win in Kirkcaldy, he said: "Not necessarily, because the expectation here is that you win every game
You don't get a pat on the back when you win one after losing three, that just doesn't happen
They know they have to win games here."McDowall confirmed staff at the cash-strapped club had been paid their monthly wages and admitted he was surprised at James Easdale's resignation from the board on Thursday but otherwise side-stepped questions on off-field matters.And he admitted the Scottish Football Association's bid to extend Simonsen's immediate one-match ban for betting offences was a blow."Obviously we are disappointed because we thought the matter had been dealt with," he said
"To get back over it again is disappointing for Stevie
He is extremely disappointed."There was some news that cheered McDowall after midfielder Andy Murdoch, who scored his first goal against Raith, signed a contract that ties him to the club until May 2017.McDowall said: "Ally McCoist has been working hard on that over the last few months and we are delighted that Andy Murdoch has signed a new deal along with Liam Kelly, the young goalkeeper."Murdoch, 20, said: "Me and my family talked about it and we thought it was the right decision."There are so many experienced players here and it's good to learn from them."I signed here when I was 13 or 14
As Rangers went down to the Third Division I started training more with the first team and got a few chances, but I got injured a couple of times and then derailed me a bit
But I came back and trained harder."It's been encouraging but I'm not getting carried away
I just need to knuckle down and get more points on the board and hopefully I can cement a place in the starting XI."
Source : PA
Source: PA