Falkirk 2-1 Rangers: No crisis at Ibrox, says Mark Warburton

Rangers' form has dipped in recent weeks

Mark Warburton insists there is no crisis at Rangers despite defeat at Falkirk meaning his team have only won two of their last six league games.

Hibernian have drawn level at the top of the Scottish Championship after the Edinburgh side beat Queen of the South.

But the Rangers manager echoed the words of veteran striker Kenny Miller in the dressing room after the game.

"You are still top of the league at Christmas and we have apparently had a slump," Warburton told BBC Scotland.

"I am very grateful to have some wise heads in the dressing-room, the likes of Kenny Miller, Lee Wallace and Dean Shiels, who have been there before and done it.

"They know the passions involved in playing for a club like Rangers.

"Kenny has told the boys - don't read the papers. Suddenly you are going to be a shocking team in a deep crisis."

However, Warburton insisted his side had the better of the game against the Bairns, who have themselves moved to within six points of the leaders after their 2-1 win.

"I've just been given the stats - 15 corners to two and 70% possession, etc - they are fine," he said. "But what we have to do is punish the opposition.

"All credit to the opposition, they worked very hard and played us on the counter and we have to show more quality in the final third."

Falkirk opened the scoring through John Baird's penalty after a tackle by Danny Wilson on Will Vaulks that cameras showed was outside the box led to what Warburton described as a "bizarre decision" to award a spot-kick.

Peter Houston (left) praised his young side but said it is too early to think of a title challenge

Barrie McKay equalised and Vaulks put Falkirk ahead but Rangers' Martyn Waghorn missed a chance to draw the visitors level again in stoppage-time after referee Willie Collum awarded a penalty for handball.

Falkirk manager Peter Houston said he and his players did not think that was a spot-kick either.

"I thought it was going to be the same as last week against Hibs and we lose a late goal to drop two points, but Danny Rogers has made a great save to get us out a hole," he said.

"We were up against it towards the end there, we tired a wee bit, but all credit to our players.

"At one stage, when we went 2-1 up, we had two great chances to make it 4-1.

"Young Kevin O'Hara, who has just turned 17, ran them ragged at times and could have got himself a couple of goals."

Houston pointed out that Baird had denied O'Hara a goal when the striker touched the ball as it crossed the goal-line while in an offside position.

However, the "thrilled" Falkirk boss was not about to suggest that his side were now themselves in the title race.

"They have stood up to a very good Rangers side and a very good Hibs side and we're not that far away," was as far as Houston would be drawn.