Nicolas Raskin dubbed ‘Tasmanian devil’ after Rangers comeback win vs Falkirk
Nicolas Raskin has been singled out for immense praise after Rangers’ comeback against Falkirk by former midfielder Kevin Thomson.
The Gers looked to be heading towards a brutal blow after going 2-0 down to the Bairns after just 26 minutes at the Falkirk Stadium on Sunday.
It was not the start that Danny Rohl would have wanted, with his side failing to turn up in the opening 40 minutes of the game.
However, in the end, all would be well with the Ibrox outfit coming out as a 6-3 winner away from home.
As Rangers convincingly beat Falkirk, Thomson picked out Raskin as the “catalyst” for Rohl’s side coming away with all three points.
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What did Kevin Thomson say about Nicolas Raskin against Falkirk?
Raskin added to his goal involvements this season by picking up both a goal and an assist against Falkirk.
The Belgian international was all over the pitch as Rangers secured victory in the nine-goal thriller at Falkirk Stadium.
| Nicolas Raskin’s creativity vs Falkirk | Total |
| Big chances created | 1 |
| Key passes | 2 |
| Expected assists | 0.49 |
| Dribbles (completed) | 5 (3) |
| Carries | 22 |
The midfielder’s performance made Rohl’s life easier during his team talk at the break, with his deep cross causing issues for Falkirk, and Tochi Chukwuani started the turnaround in the 42nd minute.
Although he was not credited with the assist, the goal undoubtedly came from the 25-year-old, and that was just the start of his influence.
His actions across the pitch left Thomson impressed, pointing out that Raskin was the defining example of Rangers’ ruthlessness in the second half.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene, he said: “They were ruthless in the second half. I thought Nico Raskin was a catalyst for that.
“His energy and drive – he committed a foul on Dylan Tait literally a minute into the second half; he probably could have got a yellow card for it.
“He was running around like a Tasmanian devil in the middle of the pitch. He was the driving force. He got to the ball, he won it back, he played it forward, obviously got a big goal, and had a hand in another goal.”
Thomson’s assessment was correct, with Raskin getting himself involved in 20 duels throughout the match and attempting five tackles. He won 11 of those 20 battles and four of those five tackles.
The performance of the midfielder did not only catch Thomson’s eyes, either, as Ian McCall reckons Raskin will have plenty of summer interest.
From a Rangers perspective, they will not want to lose a player who can change games in the way the Belgian can.
Rangers bailed out on this occasion by Raskin, but can’t afford to make it a trend
On this occasion, the Gers were bailed out by Raskin’s energy and work rate, helping his side get themselves back into the game.
His ability to cover ground and win the ball back was pivotal in swinging momentum around.
However, they must not rely on an individual to drag themselves back into a game. With the Scottish Premiership title on the line, they cannot afford to go 2-0 down after just 26 minutes.
Rohl’s men got away with one against Falkirk. A comeback like the one in Stirlingshire may not be tolerated by tougher opponents like Hearts or Celtic.
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