In the face of fresh financial peril, the Rangers players declined an offer to take a 15-per-cent pay-cut last week. On their first outing since that controversial meeting, however, the performance levels of the Ibrox men at Station Park suggested they were, in fact, already on reduced wages.

They were listless on the park for most of the evening, despite a spot of pre-match pampering at the four-star Carnoustie Hotel ahead of taking on the Forfar part-timers, with the Rangers fans also subdued in the stands.

And so it was until the middle of a long, frustrating night, when one lamenting voice rang out in the darkness from within a frustrated travelling support: ‘Stop feeling sorry for yourselves Rangers and just get on with it.’

It was a plea that was finally heeded 15 minutes from time as defender Bilel Mohsni headed the opening goal. Substitute David Templeton’s fine second ensured Ally McCoist’s pre-match fears that the financial crisis enveloping the club would spill over on to the field of play did not come to fruition.

Prior to Templeton’s intervention, however, it required a stunning save from debutant Steve Simonsen to stop Lee Wallace scoring an own-goal and handing Forfar an equaliser they probably deserved.

McCoist was no doubt grateful to his goalkeeper — dropped points here would have been rather untimely to say the least.

Last night was the second time a Rangers trip to Forfar had been overshadowed by major controversy. Back in August, however, it was a Rangers side unable to field the majority of their new signings that made a shock 2-1 extra-time exit from the League Cup to Dick Campbell’s side.

On that occasion, it had been the re-emergence of former chief executive Charles Green that had marred proceedings amid his warning that McCoist deserved to be sacked if all he won this season was the League One title.

But although a stronger Rangers team made it 20 wins in 21 league matches this season, and stretched their lead to 20 points at the top of the table, this was still tough to watch.

Until the late double breakthrough, the part-timers largely restricted McCoist’s team to long-range efforts and a couple of admittedly strong penalty claims.

The Rangers manager had made three changes from his team’s last outing, a 2-0 win over East Fife at Ibrox nine days earlier. Goalkeeper Cammy Bell missed the match due to the birth of his daughter, while Andy Little dropped to the bench. Midfielder Ian Black was suspended.

Richard Foster and Lewis Macleod came in while there was a debut for Simonsen. McCoist’s signing of the 34-year-old former Everton and Dundee keeper as cover for Bell has been criticised as not giving value for money as he had yet to play a minute for the Ibrox club before last night.

By the end of the night, he had proved his worth.

An interesting sub-plot to the action was that Simonsen’s arrival at Dundee last year under John Brown ended Forfar goalkeeper Rab Douglas’ long association with the Dens Park club.

But Simonsen’s first task as a Rangers player was very nearly to pick the ball out of his net after just two minutes. Kevin Fotheringham swung in a dangerous cross from the left, which sparked bedlam amongst the visitors’ defence. Stuart Malcolm rose highest and his header looped over Simonsen but bounced off the bar and was hacked away to safety.

At the other end, though, it required a smart save from former Scotland international Douglas to prevent a sizzling shot from Nicky Law ending up in the roof of the net.

Wallace then showed why he is Rangers’ most saleable asset during this transfer window when he burst down the left wing before running into Darren Dods in the box. Referee Stephen Finnie quite rightly waved aside the Scotland international’s penalty protests.

As half-time approached there were quick-fire chances at both ends. First, it required a solid stop by Simonsen from Gavin Swankie after the Forfar midfielder volleyed a miscued clearance by Rangers captain Lee McCulloch.

Then Douglas saved a Mohsni drive and the former Celtic keeper showed lightning reactions to get down to smother a follow-up from Jon Daly.

For McCoist, the highlight of an otherwise insipid first-half display was Macleod’s performance in midfield. Given the poverty of attacking intent amongst their team, though, the sight of Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd doing guest analysis at half-time for BT Sport must have added to the torture for the shivering Rangers fans.

It was more of the same in the second half, with nervy misplaced passes and an overly-cautious approach. McCulloch came the closest to breaking the deadlock when his shot from the end of the box was superbly tipped on to the bar and over by Douglas.

But Rangers could have had a penalty when Mohsni was bundled over at the back post then Daly’s shot appeared to be punched away by Dods. On both occasions, however, referee Finnie was having none of it, and even booked Wallace for dissent.

McCoist tried to inject a bit of pace and invention by sending on Templeton for the under-performing Dean Shiels. But it was young Aird who supplied the breakthrough chance, his right-wing corner being thumped home by the head of the giant Mohsni.

The travelling Rangers fans burst into life at last but hearts were in mouths when Mohsni’s defensive header hit Wallace and required a super save from Simonsen.

Then former Dundee United striker Dale Hilson thought he had grabbed a spectacular equaliser but his 20-yard swerved free-kick dipped the wrong side of Simonsen’s post.

But Rangers substitute Templeton showed him how it was done when he took a pass from Law, drove forward past three static Forfar defenders and sent an unstoppable shot high beyond Douglas.

Game over. But as many grumbling Rangers fans agreed on the way out of Station Park, this was far from impressive from McCoist’s men.

—Daily Mail