Can Rangers keep their winning league run going?

No, says Matthew Lindsay

MARK Warburton’s side were highly fortunate to make it nine wins out of nine in the Championship against Falkirk at the weekend.

It took them until the 81st minute to edge ahead of Peter Houston’s team – and even then they only did so after being awarded a controversial free-kick.

James Tavernier, who put the home team back in front with a fine effort, put a positive spin on the game afterwards and claimed that it showed the Gers could win ugly.

But, for me, it highlighted that the Ibrox club can, despite being comfortably the best team in the second tier and strong favourites to lift the title, be held to a draw or even beaten.

A few key Rangers players failed to turn up and perform and they toiled to break down hard-working opponents as a result.

If they struggle like that on their own turf when they are having an off day how are they going to get on at another ground when they aren’t at their best?

Warburton has assembled a fine side which is capable of playing some attractive football. The goal that Dean Shiels scored at the weekend, for instance, was the result of an intricate passing move.

But it is too much to expect a youthful team like this to go through the entire 2015/16 campaign without drawing or losing a match.

With winter rapidly approaching, the pitches and playing conditions are set to deteriorate and the chances are Rangers will come unstuck sooner rather than later.

Glasgow Times: Rangers manager Mark Warburton applauds the home fans after the final whistle

Yes, says Chris Jack

RANGERS made it nine from nine in the Championship as they had to dig deep to clinch a 3-1 win over Falkirk at Ibrox on Saturday.

It wasn’t the best performance of the campaign from Mark Warburton’s side but they still deserved to emerge victorious from an entertaining affair.

With 27 points and 31 goals to their tally on league duty already this term, it has certainly been an encouraging start to the campaign for Warburton’s side.

And it shows no sign of letting up just yet as they look to pull further away from the chasing pack and clinch their Premiership return sooner rather than later.

League fixtures at home to Queen of the South and away to St Mirren and Hibernian are on the horizon for Rangers and if they can emerge unscathed through that spell then they will be well on their way to the second tier title.

Having swept all before them on Championship duty thus far, Warburton’s side will head into the second quarter of the season in fine form and high in confidence, and rightly so.

It is still far too early to talk about the Gers going through the 36 game league schedule unbeaten. Shocks can easily happen.

But while Warburton has his tried and trusted stars to call upon and if complacency doesn’t set in, Rangers will believe they can keep up the momentum for some time yet.

The Ibrox boss will continue to keep his, and his players’, feet on the ground, but it would be no surprise if they racked up a few more wins in the coming weeks.