There are reasons why Emilson Cribari has made only five starts for Rangers this season. None need be given should this prove to be his last. Ever.

The Brazilian centre-half, once of Lazio and Napoli, has shown little of worth since arriving on these shores last term and topped off a catastrophic defensive display by Ally McCoist’s side when conceding a penalty with 15 minutes to go and gifting Stenhousemuir a draw.

A 72nd-minute Jon Daly header added to earlier goals from Nicky Law and Fraser Aird — the Light Blues’ 100th of the campaign — to give Rangers the lead for the first time in the game after they had let in Sean Dickson early on and allowed Sean Higgins to head home just before the hour.

Yet they were a shambles at the back all day and Cribari, in for the suspended Bilel Mohsni, sold the jerseys when being adjudged to have tugged the shirt of David Rowson and permitting Higgins to score his second from the spot.

Referee Greg Aitken was booed off the park at time-up as a result of turning down two strong penalty claims from David Templeton in the first half and booking the winger for diving after going down under pressure from Sean Lynch in the second of those.

However, while manager McCoist shared concerns over Aitken’s display, Law opted to focus on the Light Blues’ own clear failings when the dust had settled.

‘There were three crosses into our box and three goals,’ said the midfielder. ‘It’s not good enough from everyone.

‘We’ve got players who are too good for this level and we shouldn’t be drawing at home.’

Stenhousemuir, clearly over the psychological trauma of losing eight goals in Govan in September, opened the scoring when Nicky Devlin delivered a good cross from the right to pick out Dickson.

Rangers had dominated up to then, with Cribari seeing a header palmed on to the bar by Chris Smith, and it remains a mystery how Templeton later managed to miss from a matter of yards after moving on to a Daly cutback on 25 minutes.

The little winger did show his abilities, though, in setting up Law to rifle home an equaliser. Andy Little hit the bar for Rangers with a long-range shot before the interval, but Stenny got themselves back in front shortly before the hour mark.

Lynch’s cross found Higgins inexplicably unmarked and he nodded home.

Rangers levelled on 69 minutes when Aird’s shot from outside the area took a wicked deflection off Ross McMillan — and Daly then got the home side’s noses in front with a glancing header.

However, Cribari attracted Aitken’s attention at the wrong moment and handed Stenny a lifeline, with Higgins going on to beat Bell to his left from the penalty mark.

‘I’ve seen the incident again and, I have to say, he’s one of very few referees who would have given that award,’ grumbled McCoist.

‘What did I think of the referee’s overall performance? I’d rather not say.

‘I thought he got both penalty decisions wrong. Templeton’s looked a stonewall penalty and it is even worse that he was punished for a crime we felt he didn’t commit.’

—Daily Mail