FALKIRK more than matched their opponents in the first half today but eventually left Ibrox pointless once again.
RANGERS 3(Davis 18, Fleck 57, Whittaker 62)
FALKIRK 0ATTENDANCE: 45,907
Both managers agreed that, despite Rangers taking an 18th minute lead through Steven Davis' stunning free-kick, the
re was little in the game at the interval.
However, the league leaders took control after the break and two goals in five minutes wrapped up the points.
Once again, the Bairns started brightly and were first to threaten when Ryan Flynn left Sasa Papac trailing in his wake and he headed down the right only for his cross to be cleared by Steven Whittaker.
On the other wing Jack Compton was giving Whittaker a torrid time and the Gers defender was lucky to escape a booking when he felled his opponent in the 13th minute. Compton himself took the free-kick but failed to find a Falkirk head.
It took until the quarter of an hour mark for the Falkirk defence to be put under any real pressure. The ball bobbled dangerously about the box before eventually dropping into a grateful Robert Olejnik's arms.
Shortly afterwards, Nacho Novo's shot was well blocked by Jackie McNamara, who was beginning to find his form after his lengthy injury lay-off.
Robert Olejnik wasn't called into serious action until the 17th minute and he was equal to the task, brilliantly tipping Danny Wilson's header around the post.
However, the Rangers opener wasn't far away. Kyle Lafferty went down rather easily at the edge of the box under a challenge from Brian McLean. Not only did referee Crawford Allan award a free-kick for he flashed a yellow card at the Bairns centre-half for what was his first foul of the game.
That didn't bother Davis who curled a shot high into the net past a despairing Olejnik.
The small but vocal contingent of Falkirk fans must have feared the worst but the Falkirk players didn't let their head drop and instead redoubled their efforts.
On 20 minutes, Enoch Shownumi looked to be clear after getting the better of David Weir only for the veteran defender get in a last-ditch tackle.
Five minutes later, the ball broke to Scott Arfield following a good run from Jackie McNamara but the midfielder shot was blocked.
Arfield had an even better opportunity shortly afterwards when he was played through by Vitor Lima. This time he got a shot on target but it was straight at Gers keeper Allan McGregor.
The Bairns went even closer in the 32nd minute when a corner from the right was met by Flynn at the far post. He headed back into the danger area and at least a couple of players had a chance to turn the ball home before the Rangers defence were able to clear their lines.
Another corner three minutes from the interval again caused problems for the Ibrox backline but the referee adjudged that McGregor had been fouled.
It took less than a minute of the second half for the champions to signal their intent.
Lafferty, looking suspiciously offside, header over from six yards then Darren Barr slide in brilliantly to block a Novo effort.
The little Spaniard had an even better opportunity minutes later but blasted over, as did Lafferty when set up by John Fleck.
Falkirk threatened briefly in the 54th minute when Lima tried to muscle his way through the Gers defence but play soon switched to the other end and Lafferty released Davis down the right. His cross evaded everyone until Fleck popped up at the far post to squeeze the ball home.
The Bairns attempted to hit back and Compton – probably the best Falkirk player on the day – created an opening but his shot was easily saved by McGregor.
Once again they were made to pay for the miss when Whittaker was allowed to waltz through before firing home from 12 yards.
The game was almost over but there was still time for Arfield to test McGregor with a drive from the edge of the box and substitute Carl Finnigan to try a speculative shot from an acute angle.
RANGERS: McGregor, Whittaker, Weir, Wilson, Papac (Smith 65), Davis, Thomson, McCulloch, Novo (Naismith 63), Fleck, Lafferty (Little 89).
NOT USED: Alexander, Broadfoot, Ness, Wylde
FALKIRK: Olejnik, McNamara, Barr, McLean, Twaddle, Flynn (Finnigan 78), Lima, Healy, Compton (O'Brien 66), Arfield, Showunmi.
NOT USED: Andrews, Stewart, Bullen, Duffy.
REFEREE: Crawford Allan
