Bairns defender Mark Twaddle, however, was the player that handed Alex McLeish’s side all three points when he fired the ball into his own net to give Alex McLeish’s side a precious win.
The result takes the Light Blues to within five points of second place Hearts in the SPL and few would argue that they deserved the victory after a dramatic 90 minutes
McLeish made three changes to the team that faced Villarreal at Ibrox ten days ago with Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo and Olivier Bernard all included in the starting line-up.
They replaced Peter Lovenkrands, Hamed Namouchi and in-form winger Chris Burke who was on the bench after feeling unwell before kick-off.
Falkirk showed their intent early in the match and Liam Craig was unlucky when he picked the ball up in the middle of the park, skipped past two Rangers players before firing a powerful shot past Ronald Waterreus’ left-hand post.
Boyd was clearly trying to impress ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League second-leg against Villarreal but showed too much enthusiasm with a late challenge on Patrick Cregg and found himself in the ref’s notebook after only six minutes.
After what was a highly-competitive opening 15 minutes Rangers then came close to taking the lead when a corner-kick from Stevie Smith was cleared to Barry Ferguson 20 yards from goal.
The captain looped a header back into the box and Jack Ross almost put the ball into his own net while under pressure from Kyrgiakos and Boyd.
Nacho Novo was seeing a lot of the ball on the right wing and the Spaniard was unlucky not to end his recent goal drought on 26 minutes when he darted past two defenders before letting fly with an audacious shot from a tight angle which Allan Ferguson did well to hold.
Rangers then came within an inch of taking the lead five minutes later when Smith played a delightful free-kick into the 18-yard box and Prso’s towering header hit the post and rolled along the line before being hooked to safety.
The Bairns, looking for their first home win of the season, were able to hold out until half-time although Bernard, playing in his first game since November 9, was booked two minutes before the interval for a late tackle on Ross.
Alex McLeish elected to take the Frenchman off for the start of the second period and send on the half-fit Burke to add more attacking flair to his team and this certainly paid off.
The 22-year-old set up his side’s first chance after the re-start when he chipped a free-kick to the back post and when the ball fell to Rodriguez he blazed his volley over the bar.
It looked as though it was going to be one of those days where neither team were going to find the net but Rangers finally made their pressure count on 57 minutes.
Barry Ferguson launched a dipping free-kick into the danger are and Boyd once again showed his instinctive goalscoring qualities by heading past Ferguson from close range.
Falkirk responded strongly and Daniel McBreen saw his powerful shot being parried before Alan Hutton cleared.
This scare should have been a warning to the Rangers defence but they were caught sleeping when Russell Latapy levelled proceedings on 66 minutes.
Falkirk defender Cregg played a long ball to the 37-year-old playmaker who held off Brahim Hemdani before firing a curling left-foot shot beyond Waterreus.
The goal gave the home support a glimmer of hope but it only took Rangers three minutes to get back in front.
Prso’s dazzling close control took him to the byline and the Croatian looked up before playing a delightful cross which the unlucky Mark Twaddle fired into the roof of his own net.
Rangers continued to look for a third goal but it never came and Alex McLeish’s men had to battle to the end to secure three important SPL points.
FALKIRK: Ferguson, Lawrie, Cregg, Ross, Gow, Latapy, Milne, McBreen, Thomson, Twaddle, Craig (Moutinho 85)
Subs Not Used: Howard, Scally, Lima, Theobald, Barr, Tiago
Bookings: Craig (26), McBreen (53) Ross (90)
RANGERS: Waterreus, Bernard (Burke 46), Kyrgiakos, Rodriguez, Hutton, Novo (Lovenkrands 83), Ferguson Hemdani, Smith, Boyd, Prso
Subs Not Used: Klos, Ricksen, Andrews, Rae, Ashikodi
Bookings: Boyd (6)
Referee: Charlie Richmond
Attendance: 6343