Latapy and Twaddle put wind up weather-beaten Rangers ALAN PATTULLO
AT FALKIRK STADIUM (apattullo@scotsman.com) FALKIRK 1 - 0 RANGERS
Twaddle (26) RANGERS were further blown off course yesterday at a storm-buffeted Falkirk Stadium t
hat proved the unlikely habitat for a 38-year-old phenomenon. Paul Le Guen's side had already been left with too much to do when it comes to the title, but a fourth away defeat in nine matches is not the form of a side bearing such lofty aspirations in any case. This was a chance to make inroads into Celtic's 16-point lead at the top,
but a Caribbean wind in the form of Russell Latapy left them stricken. Check de praise here:The veteran delivered a virtuoso performance in the sort of conditions he won't have encountered too often when growing up in downtown Port of Spain. Just like the flame flicking it out of a nearby Grangemouth chimney stack, his is a talent that won't be dimmed. Latapy was a glowing presence on a day of brutal winds and driving rain. Compounding the misery of those Rangers fans present was the knowledge that Latapy was once one of theirs. Even now he looks a more refined performer than any of Paul Le Guen's summer purchases. In comparison to him in midfield Jeremy Clement looked a very minor act, while Sasa Papac, another close-season recruit, was replaced after only an hour.
While too many in the Rangers side sought shelter in anonymity, Latapy excelled. He inspired Falkirk to a first win over the Ibrox side in the league since the opening day of 1971.
Unlike most of his team-mates the midfielder had been born by the time strikers Andy Roxburgh and Alex Ferguson combined to make it a famous day at Brockville. Now it is Marc Twaddle's name which goes into history, and like Latapy he was supplied with extra incentive yesterday. The defender was released by Rangers when a teenager and last season had the misfortune to score an own-goal against his old side.
This, then, was pay-back time, something gleefully enacted by Twaddle and his accomplice.
"It just shows it's not the end of the world when you get released," the baby-faced match-winner later said.
A corner from the Trinidad and Tobago internationalist Latapy was headed into the net by Twaddle. Falkirk not only hung on to this lead during the remaining 65 minutes but might have extended it.
The wind whistled out a mournful lament for a Rangers side who proved that recent reports of their recovery have been exaggerated. Here they seemed a disjointed lot. On a day when it was necessary for players to roll up their sleeves and endure the atrocious conditions the Ibrox side fielded too many passengers.
Their cause was not helped by the loss of Kris Boyd just a minute before half-time. The striker had been felled by a strong challenge by Kenny Milne from behind, and never recovered. On came the lumbering Filip Sebo, and although plenty of half-chances presented themselves none were taken.
Falkirk proved they are more than a one-man team. Anthony Stokes, the scorer of 13 goals in his last 13 matches, was absent through suspension, but
Latapy is Falkirk's most significant performer in any case.
He made a mockery of both his advancing years and opponents who purport to be an elite group. There was not a single Rangers man you would have picked ahead of Latapy. In fact, one struggles to think of an Ibrox player who outperformed his opposite man. Rarely has a man of the match award been so clear-cut, but Latapy was joined in the list of most distinguished performers by Alan Gow, Liam Craig and Darren Barr. The last named was booked after a frantic goal-mouth melee in the second-half but later redeemed himself with a superb goal-saving challenge on Nacho Novo.
The flags of the variety of countries from which this present Falkirk squad has been assembled were almost being torn from their poles by a wind that made playing conditions border on the farcical. The one representing Trinidad and Tobago fluttered furiously but down on the pitch Latapy remained unflustered.
The 38-year-old was proved the most adept when it came to mastering the driving rain and howling gale, a strange phenomenon given his origins. Unlike midfield rival Clement he had no need for a pair of gloves; just pure, thrilling talent combined with burning desire. The midfielder remained head and shoulders above everyone else on show throughout, and nearly scored with an audacious second-half free kick from just inside the touchline. Later still his little legs carried him into the box, and, after beating Karl Svensson with ease, Latapy thundered in an effort which skimmed the bar. The rest of his team-mates had taken their time to register that simply booting the ball up into the air would only result in it landing somewhere behind them.
Latapy, however, was immediately alert to the situation, and sought to prompt his colleagues by playing short, snappy passes to their feet. Slowly they tuned into his wavelength, and played the conditions well enough to establish a one-goal interval lead. Unsurprisingly the strike had its source in Latapy. His well-taken corner kick swung viciously towards the back post, where it found the head of Twaddle. Although Clement was stationed on the line he was able only to help the ball on its way into the net.
Rangers had already almost colluded in presenting an opening goal for Falkirk. A Brahim Hemdani back-pass that had been intended for his goalkeeper had succeeded only in wrong-footing him, although Allan McGregor did well to dash back and clear the ball off his own line.
It was an early hint of the troubles to come in the kind of weather that would have sent seamen home to the hearth.
As the second-half wore on you could tell the awful conditions were deteriorating; John Hughes had put a jacket on.
The sodden manager had more pressing concerns than the cold; how to keep Rangers out and, perhaps, how to convince Latapy to play on here until he's 40. MAN OF THE MATCH Russell Latapy (Falkirk)
How could it be anyone else? For nearly a decade the Trinidadian midfielder has lit up Scottish football, and he might even be getting better with the passing years. He played sensibly in conditions not suited to long, high balls, but even when doing the simple things he manages to make it seem artful. Pulled strings all afternoon.