Falkirk 2-1 Rangers: Late drama at the Falkirk Stadium

Falkirk underlined their promotion credentials with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Championship leaders Rangers.

John Baird and Will Vaulks netted for the home team either side of a Barrie McKay goal in a match which had plenty of drama including two penalties at the Falkirk Stadium.

The Bairns opened up Rangers after just three minutes as Will Vaulks beat last-man Danny Wilson for pace, after winning a challenge midway inside his own half and bursting forward, before he was taken out by the defender just outside the box.

Referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot but did not dismiss Wilson, who was instead booked seconds before Baird netted the penalty despite Wes Foderingham getting a hand to the ball.

But Rangers levelled the match on 16 minutes when Nathan Oduwa delivered the ball to the far side of the box after Andy Halliday's shot was deflected out to the winger, and the unmarked McKay arrived at the back post to drive his low shot into the 'keeper's left corner.

Falkirk should have restored their lead on 25 minutes when Kevin O'Hara drifted in behind Rob Kiernan and slipped his shot past the advancing Foderingham only to be denied by team-mate Baird, who touched the net-bound ball on the line having arrived from an offside position.

The visitors finished the half with a spell of pressure and James Tavernier cracked a low drive inches wide of the post from 22 yards with Falkirk goalkeeper Daniel Rogers beaten.

Rangers claimed a penalty five minutes after the break when Dean Shiels went down in the box when challenged by Aaron Muirhead but the Falkirk defender won the ball cleanly.

Two minutes later Sibbald skipped past Tavernier 25 yards from goal and dispatched a dipping shot towards the corner, but Foderingham got down to his left and pushed the ball clear.

But Falkirk struck a second goal on 55 minutes as Rangers failed to deal with a corner at the near post and the ball was worked across the penalty area to the onrushing Vaulks to lash a low drive through a ruck of players into the bottom corner of the net.

Rangers survived another scare 90 seconds later when O'Hara raced on to a Baird pass and shot across Foderingham, but the 'keeper got his fingertips to the ball which ratted the inside of the far upright.

And Foderingham again denied O'Hara with another spectacular save, diving to his left to turn a curling drive from the edge of the penalty area behind for a corner.

Falkirk then had a narrow escape when Gary Holt's persistence took him into the box before he laid the ball back to substitute Nicky Law, and his powerful drive from 18 yards was pushed on to the top of the bar by Rogers.

The Bairns 'keeper then got down to turn Kenny Miller's low shot round the post and later pushed a Halliday drive wide as Rangers laid siege in an attempt to get level for a second time.

And Rogers again thwarted Halliday a minute from time when he threw himself across to get his hands on a dipping shot heading for the bottom corner of the net.

And two minutes into stoppage time Rogers secured his side's victory when he pushed Martyn Waghorn's penalty against the post, after the ball had bounced off Blair Alston's hand, to provide a dramatic climax to an enthralling match.