Lawrence Shankland scores Rangers' winnerImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Lawrence Shankland was the match-winner for Rangers

At a glance

  • Shankland gives Rangers the lead with left-footed strike

  • Falkirk equalise on stroke of half-time though Nedeljkovic own goal

  • Shankland secures victory for visitors with another clinical finish

ByGeorge O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Rangers made it back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership as Lawrence Shankland's superb double downed wasteful Falkirk.

The Scotland striker scored either side of Kosta Nedeljkovic's own goal to alleviate pressure on Derek McInnes - who watched from the stands amid his touchline ban - and build some much-needed momentum for the Ibrox outfit.

After scoring the winner at Pittodrie on Sunday, Shankland fired Rangers in front on eight minutes with a fine touch and strike after being teed up by Djeidi Gassama.

It was reflective of a slick start by McInnes' team and Kim Min-Su went close to his first Rangers goal soon after as his low drive bounced clear off the base of a post.

However, Falkirk grew into the contest and Rangers started to make sloppy errors, which culminated in an equaliser just before half-time.

Cammy Devlin coughed up possession in midfield, Ethan Ross skinned Olwethu Makhanya down the right and his low cross was turned into his own net by Aston Villa loanee Nedeljkovic.

Falkirk had several golden opportunities to hit the front after the break, with American striker Jacob Murrell twice shooting straight at Ivor Pandur when he should have scored.

And the hosts were made to pay for their profligacy as Shankland took Ross McCrorie's pass in his stride before sweeping another clinical left-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Falkirk remain without a league win and are only above pointless Kilmarnock, while Rangers are fifth on seven points from their four matches.

Rangers analysis: Shankland stars on Raskin's return

Having missed Rangers' past two matches amid transfer speculation - and on the same day as the Ibrox outfit rejected a loan offer from Besiktas - Nicolas Raskin was the main focus before kick-off as the Belgium international returned from the start.

And he showed what McInnes has been missing - particularly in the Conference League play-off defeat by Jablonec - with his role in Shankland's opener.

Raskin won the ball back in his own half and started the counter-attack by sweeping the ball out to Gassama's flank.

The performance was once again far from sparkling and there is still no discernible style under McInnes, but his former Hearts captain delivered a much-needed win.

Both Shankland goals were typical of the man - calm and composed when many of his team-mates had lost the run of the game.

After a slow start to his Rangers career, Shankland now has four goals in nine matches this season to go with 60 in his last three campaigns for Hearts. He was the difference between the sides.

Falkirk analysis: Lack of goalscorer evident

With the departures of Calvin Miller to Hearts and Barney Stewart to West Brom over the summer, as well as Ben Broggio returning to parent club Aston Villa, it was always going to be a big ask for John McGlynn to rebuild his attack.

His team created several gilt-edged chances, partly through Rangers errors, but were unable to take them.

Murrell got on the end of a low cross from the left at the start of the second half, but his shot was tame and easily saved by Pandur.

Not long after, visiting centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez gifted an even better chance to the American striker with the slackest of slack square balls.

Murrell had time to take a touch, but he shot first time. Anything to the side of Pandur was a definite goal, but again his shot was too close to the Croat keeper.

Aodhan Doherty was also guilty of rushing his shot with the goal gaping on a frustrating night of near-misses.

McGlynn has already made 16 summer signings - including Murrell and Doherty - but he might be tempted to add another striker before the window closes on Thursday.

Player of the match

Number: 7 L. Shankland
Average rating 6.97
Number: 16 F. Barbrook
Average Rating: 6.21
Number: 5 L. Henderson
Average Rating: 5.86
Number: 23 E. Ross
Average Rating: 5.83
Number: 8 B. Spencer
Average Rating: 5.75
Number: 3 L. McCann
Average Rating: 5.75
Number: 15 L. Neilson
Average Rating: 5.68
Number: 28 B. Krauhaus
Average Rating: 5.65
Number: 22 R. Strain
Average Rating: 5.58
Number: 99 C. Fodrey
Average Rating: 5.55
Number: 19 S. Bain
Average Rating: 5.46
Number: 24 J. Murrell
Average Rating: 5.35
Number: 9 R. MacIver
Average Rating: 5.00
Number: 47 A. Doherty
Average Rating: 4.96
Number: 21 D. Meļņiks
Average Rating: 4.88
Number: 7 B. Parkinson
Average Rating: 4.78

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.