RANGERS continued their unbeaten start to the Championship campaign with a 3-1 win over Falkirk at Ibrox this afternoon.
Mark Warburton’s side have now seen off all of their second tier rivals and are in a commanding position at the top of the table.
But they had to work hard for the three points as goals from Dean Shiels, James Tavernier and Lee Wallace saw them clinch victory in an entertaining affair.
Warburton was forced to make a change to his starting line-up from the side that beat Morton last weekend as Shiels came in for Gedion Zelalem in the middle of the park.
And the Northern Irishman wasted little time in repaying his manager’s faith as he put Rangers ahead after just three minutes.
It was a slick move from the Light Blues as he collected the ball from Barrie McKay, played a one-two with Martyn Waghorn that opened up the Bairns defence and then finished well beyond keeper Danny Rogers.
It should have been the ideal platform for Rangers to go on and win the game but Peter Houston’s side responded well as they took the game to the Championship leaders.
After Aaron Muirhead tried his luck from distance, Vaulks found the back of the net with a superb long-range strike.
Craig Sibbald’s corner was played out to the edge of the area and Vaulks rifled the ball beyond Wes Foderingham before celebrating in style with a back flip as Ibrox was stunned.
As Rangers looked for a quick response, Tavernier and Andy Halliday both fired efforts over the bar, before Jason Holt brought out a superb stop from Rogers after McKay and Wallace combined down the left flank.
Before the end of the half, Waghorn burst into the area and pulled a shot wide and Rob Kiernan headed over from a corner as Warburton’s side were left frustrated.
Having seen their side ease to wins at Ibrox in the opening weeks of the campaign, this was a shock to the system for the home crowd as Rangers toiled, a chip from Waghorn and low shot from Shiels both saved by Rogers.
There was a heart in the mouth moment at the other end as well, Foderingham only just recovering in time after he spilled a Tom Taiwo drive.
With just ten minutes remaining, Warburton’s side got the goal they had been looking for as Tavernier curled a superb free-kick over the wall and into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Sub Miller almost made sure of the points on the break but his shot from a tight angle was cleared off the line.
With just seconds left on the clock, Wallace made it 3-1 with a sweet strike into the top corner after Nicky Law was denied by Rogers.
RANGERS: Foderingham; Tavernier, Kiernan, Wilson, Wallace; Halliday, Shiels (Ball 90), Holt (Law 71); McKay, Oduwa (Miller 60), Waghorn
Booked: Kiernan,
Goals: Shiels 3, Tavernier 80
FALKIRK: Rogers; Muirhead, McCracken, Grant, Leahy; Sibbald, Taiwo (Smith 85), Vaulks, Kerr (Miller 89), Alston; Baird
Booked: Leahy, Kerr, Baird, Muirhead
Goals: Vaulks 16
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