Falkirk 0
Attendance 50,196
A historic pre-match ceremony saw the Main Stand
renamed the Bill Struth Main Stand, a plaque to this
effect being unveiled on the pitch by Rangers' legend
John Greig.
Bill Struth of course managed Rangers for fully 34
years from 1920–54; today's Boss, Paul Le Guen, made
two changes from Kilmarnock with Phil Bardsley and
Chris Burke replacing Alan Hutton and the injured Lee
Martin against a Falkirk side containing former Ranger
Russell Latapy.
Bardsley it was who opened the scoring in seventeen
minutes with a superb 25-yard free-kick.
Seven minutes later a mistake by Jeremy Clement almost
let Falkirk back in – Anthony Stokes' snap-shot being
held by Allan McGregor.
That was a mere aberration however – Dado Prso making
it 2-0 in 28 minutes with a volley from Brahim
Hemdani's chip.
It was all Rangers – ten minutes later Burke embarked
on a mazy run before striking the crossbar from 25
yards, then immediately thereafter Karl Svensson was
inches wide with a header from Hemdani's free-kick.
Seconds before the interval Kris Boyd was inches away
from connecting with a driven cross from Libor Sionko
as the Light Blues finished the half in total command.
Eighteen League Championship flags were displayed at
the interval (the number won by Struth's Rangers)
while five Ibrox legends, Bobby Brown, Eric Caldow,
Billy Simpson, Johnny Hubbard and Davie Wilson were
introduced to the 50,196 crowd.
Barry Ferguson replaced Libor Sionko for the start of
the second-half, the former captain receiving a
massive ovation from the capacity crowd.
Rangers continued to motor – and Burke should have
added a third in 63 minutes when his shot from a
Steven Smith cross was blocked by goalkeeper Scott
Higgins, the winger being replaced by Filip Sebo sixty
seconds later.
It was 3-0 in 67 minutes when Boyd converted a penalty
after being hauled down by Darren Barr as he moved
onto a Ferguson pass. The defender was fortunate to
remain on the park, having already been yellow-carded.
Thomas Buffel replaced Prso four minutes later, and
the Belgian netted the goal of the game in 77 minutes
when he capped a superb run by netting with a
blistering shot from twenty yards.
There was no let-up – seven minutes later Boyd's shot
on the turn from a Ferguson pass was held by Higgins,
then Sebo squandered a clear oppportunity to score his
first goal for the club, slicing his shot wide
following a Hemdani – Beffel move.
In the dying seconds Boyd might have added a fifth,
shooting over from a Bardsley cross.
Afterwards a satisfied Paul le Guen summarised:
“I was pleased with the result, but we have played
better. There are four hard away games ahead – we must
play better than today.”
RANGERS McGregor; Bardsley, Svensson, Rodriguez,
Smith; Sionko (Ferguson 45), Hemdani, Clement, Burke
(Sebo 64); Prso (Buffel 71), Boyd
UNUSED SUBS Robinson, Rae, Hutton, Adam
FALKIRK Higgins; Ross, Milne, Barr, Scobbie; Cregg,
Latapy (Lima 64), O'Donnell, Moutinho (Stewart 60);
Gow, Stokes (McManus 77)
UNUSED SUBS Lambers, Twaddle, Craig, Dodd
REFEREE Stuart Dougal