Kris Boyd ensured a positive end to a difficult week by firing Rangers to a narrow victory over bottom side Falkirk in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League - and keeping their title hopes alive for now.

The Ibrox side were under even more pressure to produce the goods in the wake of Barry Ferguson being stripped of the captaincy and suspended by the club, along with goalkeeper Allan McGregor, following their antics while on international duty with Scotland.

The display at the Falkirk Stadium was hardly a shining example of Rangers' ability to cope without the pair in forthcoming crucial games but was enough to move within three points of leaders Celtic again.

More to follow...

Teams:

Falkirk Dani Mallo, McNamara, Scobbie, Bullen (Aafjes 68), Pressley, McBride (Moffat 80), Arfield, O'Brien, Cregg (Higdon 64), McCann, Finnigan.

Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Holden, Riera, Mitchell.

Booked: Cregg.

Rangers Alexander, Whittaker, Papac, Weir, Bougherra, McCulloch (Edu 76), Davis, Fleck (Naismith 60), Boyd (Velicka 86), Mendes, Novo.

Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Dailly, Niguez, Little.

Booked: McCulloch, Whittaker, Boyd, Bougherra.

Goals: Boyd 9.

Att: 6,853

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).