Andrius Velicka claimed his first competitive goal as Rangers went some way to making amends for their European exit with a 1-0 win at Falkirk.The good news is that three points from their SPL opener on Saturday eases the pressure slightly on the Ibrox club following a week to forget - the bad news is they looked far from convincing for the first hour of this game.

Falkirk should have been ahead through a Michael Higdon penalty but a fine save from Allan McGregor kept the scores level, before summer signing Velicka netted the decisive goal.

Walter Smith made several changes from the side which lost to FBK Kaunas, albeit those were forced rather than as a result of the manager wielding the axe following the events in Lithuania on Tuesday night.

Kenny Miller was sidelined with a thigh injury, while David Weir and Nacho Novo missed the trip to the Falkirk Stadium through suspension.

Velicka and Kris Boyd started up front and Madjid Bougherra earned his debut at centre-half following his move from Charlton last week.

There were also competitive debuts for Jackie McNamara and Lee Bullen, who both started the game for Falkirk.

Rangers began brightly enough, with Kyle Lafferty looking lively early on and Sasa Papac drilling across the face of goal and wide.

Darren Barr was fortunate to avoid punishment for a last-man challenge on Boyd. The tackle took place just outside the box, meaning no hope of a penalty - but the repercussions could have been serious for Falkirk so early in the game.

The home side had a decent chance of their own, with John Stewart doing all the hard work by making a run into the box.

The ball broke to Gerard Aafjes who set up Higdon for the shot but he blasted over, failing to trouble Rangers goalkeeper McGregor - who wore the captain's armband in the absence of Weir.

But it was all the encouragement Falkirk needed as they pushed forward hoping to put the makeshift Rangers defence under pressure.

The home side were almost gifted the opener as frailties at the back were exposed when a poor backpass from Christian Dailly was completely miskicked across the face of goal by McGregor before being hooked to safety.

Aafjes then tried his luck with an audacious right-footed shot from distance which dipped well over the crossbar as Falkirk continued to grow in confidence.

Rangers tried to impose themselves on the game again and Kevin Thomson charged into the box before seeing a well-struck low shot smothered by goalkeeper Robert Olejnik.

Stewart was then called into action to clear a Dailly effort off the line from a Lafferty corner, before Steven Whittaker's shot cannoned off the body of Barr.

Rangers were threatening within seconds of the restart when Higdon lost possession in his own half, allowing Whittaker to embark on a lengthy run into the box only to scuff his shot, with Velicka screaming for the ball out on the right.

But it was Falkirk who should have been ahead five minutes into the second half when Whittaker hacked down Kevin McBride in the area after he had been released by Russell Latapy.

Higdon stepped up for the penalty but McGregor came to the rescue by diving to his left to block the shot.

The breakthrough came after 64 minutes when Thomson slipped the ball through to Lafferty, who provided an inviting low pass across the face of goal. All that was required from the on-rushing Velicka was a simple tap in from close range.

That proved to be Velicka's final contribution to the game and he left the field to rapturous applause from the away fans, with Jean-Claude Darcheville replacing him.

Boyd could have put the game beyond Falkirk

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