Lawrence Shankland’s stunning double secured back-to-back Scottish Premiership wins for Rangers with a 2-1 victory at Falkirk on Wednesday night.
Manager Derek McInnes was forced to watch from the stand at a rainy Falkirk Stadium as he began his touchline ban for comments made last season while in charge of Hearts.
It was his former Jambos captain who gave them the lead in style, collecting Djeidi Gassama’s ball and smashing it into the net after eight minutes.
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They were far from convincing and Kosta Nedeljkovic inexplicably knocked the ball into his own net to pull the Bairns level before half-time.
Falkirk then had the better of the chances and Jacob Murrell should have put them ahead on his home debut.
Aodhan Doherty wasted a brilliant chance after a mix-up between Gers keeper Ivor Pandur and Ross McCrorie, with the substitute then setting up his captain to sweep in the winner late on.
John McGlynn’s remain without a league win and are only above pointless Kilmarnock, while Rangers are fifth on seven points from their four matches.
The key moments from the Falkirk Stadium
8: GOAL! Brilliant from the Rangers captain. Gassama sends the ball into Shankland, he switches onto his left before firing into the net.
16: CHANCE! Ross feeds the ball through to Fodrey in the box, but he can’t get his feet sorted.
19: OFF THE POST! Kim denied by the woodwork.
24: SAVE! Kim close again! Bain reacts quickly to deny the Rangers newcomer, Raskin hits the side netting with the rebound.
44: GOAL! Falkirk are level. Ross sends in a cross, Nedeljkovic slides in to try and clear but instead puts it past Pandur.
48: SAVE! Fodrey gets his head to a cross but it’s plucked out the air by Pandur.
51: CHANCE! Ross with a brilliant cross to the feet of Murrell but his effort lacks power and Pandur saves.
52: WIDE! What a chance for Shankland. Curtis lays it on a plate for the Rangers skipper but he somehow puts it past.
61: OVER! A brilliant chance for the Bairns. Murrell’s header is deflected over the bar.
62: CHANCE! Falkirk should be in front! Murrell is one-on-one with Pandur after an awful pass from Fernandez, but his shot lacks power and the opportunity is gone.
78: WHAT A MISS! Doherty should have the ball in the after a mix up between Pandur and Curtis, but he gets it all wrong.
79: GOAL! A huge goal from the captain. Shankland collects McCrorie’s pass, takes a touch then fires into the bottom corner.
Shankland: ‘Winning breeds confidence’
Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland speaking to Sky Sports:
“Delighted to follow up from the weekend with another good result.
“We had quite a lot of moments around their box and I think we just snatched at a couple of things and made the wrong decisions.
“We knew we had to tidy up in the final third. I’ll just keep shooting with my left foot!
“The scrutiny is up there at the moment, but I just had to stay confident and another chance would come.
“There’s been a lot to sort out and take in. When you start winning games, it breeds confidence and everything feels a bit easier.
“We know we’ve got a lot to improve on with our performances, but we had some good moments and we’ll take those positives.”
