Rangers secured a hard-fought 2-1 win against Falkirk on Wednesday, with Lawrence Shankland scoring both goals. The victory, reported by The Guardian, provides some relief for manager Derek McInnes as his team currently sits fourth in the Scottish Premiership with 10 points from five games.
How did Rangers overcome Falkirk?
Lawrence Shankland opened the scoring with a fine strike in the seventh minute. The Scotland international, who joined from Hearts in the close-season, gave his side an early advantage at Ibrox.
Falkirk equalized just before halftime through an own goal from Kosta Nedeljkovic. The defender, making his first Rangers start since arriving on loan from Aston Villa, turned an Ethan Ross cross into his own net. Shankland then curled in the winner after 79 minutes to secure all three points for the home side.
What does this mean for Derek McInnes?
The win comes at an important time for manager Derek McInnes. He served the first match of a two-game touchline ban, reduced from four matches, for comments made while managing Hearts last season.
McInnes watched from the is his team secured the victory. According to the PressReader report, Shankland's performance saved the manager from another difficult result. Rangers have scored six goals while conceding four in their opening five league matches, giving them a +2 goal difference.
Where do Rangers stand in the title race?
Rangers currently occupy fourth position in the Premiership table with three wins, one draw, and one loss from their opening five fixtures. They trail leaders Celtic by five points in the early stages of the campaign.
The team's recent form shows three wins followed by a loss and a draw. You can track their progress throughout the season on our standings page. Their next challenge comes against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on December 26th.
What is the significance of Shankland's contribution?
Shankland's double against Falkirk marked his second consecutive match with a goal. He had also scored from the penalty spot in Rangers' 1-0 win at Aberdeen the previous Sunday.
The striker's consistent scoring provides a positive sign for Rangers as they look to close the gap on Celtic. With five points separating the Glasgow rivals, every result matters in the title race. Fans can view the complete squad list to see how Shankland fits into McInnes' plans.
Rangers face Kilmarnock, who are currently 12th in the table, in their next Premiership fixture on Boxing Day.
