Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland scored twice to secure a 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory over Falkirk as manager Derek McInnes watched from the stands while serving a touchline ban.
Shankland struck in the eighth minute and netted the winning goal 11 minutes from time, securing back-to-back league wins for the Ibrox side following Sunday's victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Falkirk had drawn level on the stroke of half-time when Kosta Nedeljkovic prodded a low cross into his own net on his first start for Rangers, but the visitors survived an erratic second-half performance to claim all three points.
The victory completed a dramatic turnaround for Shankland, who just seven days earlier had faced television cameras to apologise after Rangers were eliminated from the UEFA Conference League by Czech club Jablonec.
While Shankland remains below the peak form he displayed during his prolific spell with Hearts in the Scottish top flight, his double took his tally to three goals for the season and marked his first from open play.
The result gives Rangers momentum heading into a demanding schedule, with Motherwell visiting Ibrox on Saturday before an Old Firm double-header against Celtic.
Raskin Returns to Spark Opening Goal
Rangers were boosted by the unexpected inclusion of Nico Raskin in the starting XI. The 25-year-old Belgian midfielder appeared bound for Turkish side Besiktas on Wednesday morning before the transfer collapsed, having been omitted from the previous two matchday squads amid speculation over his future.
After Falkirk controlled the early exchanges, Raskin initiated the opening goal on eight minutes. Collecting a loose ball on the edge of his own penalty box, he released left-back James Penrice down the flank.
Penrice moved the ball on to Djeidi Gassama, who drove unopposed towards the home defence before setting up Shankland 18 yards out.
Despite taking a heavy initial touch, Shankland adjusted his body to rifle a powerful strike into the roof of the net past Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain, who had struggled in his previous outing against Celtic.
Falkirk attempted to respond quickly when Ryan Strain forced a comfortable save from Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur with a 25-yard drive following a short corner routine. Seconds later, Shankland capitalised on indecision in the home defence but sent his long-range snapshot high and wide.
Rangers forward Kim Min-su, the 20-year-old South Korean signed from Spanish club Girona, proved influential throughout the first half by exploiting space behind the Falkirk midfield.
Min-su saw a curling effort from outside the box rebound off the post midway through the half, before forcing Bain into a parried save shortly after. Raskin should have hit the target from the rebound but skewed his effort into the side netting.
Min-su also created clear scoring opportunities for Gassama and Findlay Curtis, but both Rangers attackers failed to convert their chances.
Falkirk Equalise Before Missing Key Chances
Falkirk equalised against the run of play right before half-time. Rangers midfielder Cammy Devlin surrendered possession in midfield, allowing Ethan Ross to sprint past Olwethu Makhanya down the right wing.
Ross delivered a low cross into the penalty box, where the sliding Nedeljkovic inadvertently prodded the ball into his own net.
Falkirk squandered a major opportunity to take the lead shortly after the restart. Ross evaded challenges down the left flank and picked out Jacob Murrell on the penalty spot, but Murrell sent a tame first-time shot trickling through Pandur.
Shankland missed a chance to restore the lead moments later. Stealing possession 35 yards from goal, he exchanged passes with Curtis to break clear, only to drag his shot wide with only Bain to beat before kicking a spare ball into the stands in frustration.
Falkirk failed to capitalise on another defensive error on the hour mark. Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez passed the ball directly to Murrell under no pressure, but the forward shot straight at Pandur.
Shankland Strikes Late to Earn Victory
As Rangers grew increasingly nervous, Gassama almost produced a moment of magic in the 73rd minute, showing fine footwork to escape Strain before curling a shot inches wide of the far post.
Falkirk threatened again when Ross McCrorie and Pandur miscommunicated over a looping cross, leaving the ball to fall for Aodhan Doherty inside the box, but the Irishman could not capitalise.
Rangers secured the victory in the 79th minute when McCrorie picked out Shankland, who took the pass in stride and calmly placed his finish into the bottom corner to wrap up the points.
