Scottish Championship: Rangers score two late goals to beat Falkirk 2-0

Rangers rode their luck and left it late before securing a 2-0 win over unlucky Falkirk in the Scottish Championship.

Ally McCoist’s side struggled for long periods at the Falkirk Stadium but goals in the last 15 minutes from Lewis MacLeod and Nicky Clark sealed three barely-deserved points for the Ibrox side.

Falkirk created the first chance with Blair Alston crossing for Tom Taiwo, but Cammy Bell in the Rangers goal spread himself well to make the block.

The lively Alston fired a shot wide of goal before Rangers began to threaten, David Templeton’s low drive whistling past Jamie MacDonald’s post.

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An Alston free-kick narrowly missed the target and he was again involved in trying to direct a cross past a stranded Bell, but he couldn’t quite reach the cross and the opening half ended goalless.

Bell remained Rangers’ hero with a superb save after the break from a David McCracken header and Rory Loy’s inviting centre somehow avoided the Falkirk forwards as the home side continued to press.

MacDonald safely collected a Clark header but Falkirk’s dominance continued to come to nothing, and they were made to pay in the final 15 minutes.

MacLeod grabbed the all-important opening goal on 78, and it came with a share of luck as his 25-yard effort came off Will Vaulks and carried it past MacDonald.

With Rangers now on the front foot Fraser Aird was twice denied by MacDonald, but he could do nothing about their second on 85 when Clark deftly flicked MacLeod's corner into the far corner.

Kris Boyd had a third goal chalked off for offside but their cutting edge proved to be the difference on the night as Rangers claimed their first points of the season.