KRIS BOYD inspired Rangers to their first win in three games as he took his tally of SPL goals to 151 with a double in a 3-1 victory at Falkirk.
The former Kilmarnock man has been excellent in the last month or so and turned in another fine display of attacking at Westfield.
Kenny Miller also found the net from the penalty spot in one of his best showing of the season to date as the title holders ran out comfortable winners.
The result was the ideal tonic after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Aberdeen and will do confidence no harm at all ahead of what’s set to be a hectic festive schedule.
Manager Walter Smith made four changes to the side which was beaten at Pittodrie, replacing a quartet of youngsters with more experienced campaigners.
With Steven Naismith ruled out because of a hamstring injury, he was sidelined and John Fleck, Kyle Lafferty and Danny Wilson all dropped to the bench.
That paved the way for Madjid Bougherra’s return to the starting line up for the first time since he returned late from international duty for the third time this season last month.
Kevin Thomson also came into central midfield, with Nacho Novo appearing to his left and Miller rejoining Boyd up front.
Gers have been slow starters recently and after losing goals in the opening stages of their meetings with Stuttgart and Aberdeen, they were eager to impress from the outset.
They forced a series of corners and had a decent penalty claim when Lee McCulloch appeared to be shoved by Brian McLean as the first one came in.
Regardless, referee Willie Collum waved his appeals away but the visitors kept piling pressure on.
Steven Davis swung in another set piece from the left and after Boyd failed to connect, McCulloch almost got there at the back post but Vitor Lima did just enough to clear.
Back came Falkirk through Pedro Moutinho and his rasping drive only just flew over Allan McGregor’s crossbar from 25 yards.
That opportunity aside, Rangers were relatively comfortable in the first few minutes and the onus was on them to make chances.
But all too often their final pass let them down and that allowed the hosts to gradually creep into the game.
Just when it seemed Eddie May’s team might edge themselves in front, the Light Blues did it instead.
And it was that man Boyd who got on the end of a fine move to claim the 150th SPL goal of his career.
Bougherra was instrumental in the opener, winning possession in midfield and laying off to Miller.
He turned the ball on to Davis, who found the Algerian continuing his rampaging run down the right flank.
Bougherra’s first-time cross was just what Boyd wanted and he made no mistake as he got ahead of his marker to turn in from close range.
Hungry for more, Miller then set up his striking colleague to play him in on home goalkeeper Robert Olejnik.
But there was to be no joy for Boyd this time, who found his opponent alert enough to come out and block.
McCulloch had a go soon after when he picked up a loose ball from Davis and he was unlucky to see his rasper across Olejnik from the edge of the area go inches past.
Rangers were in the ascendancy now and Novo cut in from the left to shoot inside the near post, only to find Olejnik there again and he made a good reaction save.
Novo came close once more as half-time got nearer, stealing in behind the defence to collect Davis’ raking pass but his final touch was too heavy.
Out of nowhere, Falkirk almost levelled through Scott Arfield and it took an outstanding save from McGregor to keep his side in front.
That proved so crucial just 10 seconds later as Boyd doubled the champions’ advantage with a wonderful foray upfield as they turned defence into such ruthless attack.
Davis charged through the middle with the ball and with plenty of options to turn to, he picked out Miller on the right.
His pass back into Boyd was crucial, with the hitman’s instinctive finish high into the net making it 2-0.
Falkirk were threatening to fall out of the game altogether but burst into life just before the break, forcing McGregor to save well again before they pulled one back.
The keeper made a good stop from Moutinho before an excellent block by David Weir in his 100th Rangers game deflected the ball behind for a corner.
When it came in, Moutinho was there to take advantage of poor marking and stab home at the back post.
Miller tried to win Gers back their two-goal cushion and cut in from the right past two men before drilling over the upright.
After the restart, Novo also came close when Thomson’s free kick after a foul on Miller found him at the back post but Olejnik stopped really well on the line.
That aside, it was a poor start to the second period by Smith’s team and as play became more and more scrappy, Falkirk adapted to that far better.
They couldn’t carve too many openings though and they were almost punished for that when McCulloch headed a Davis corner just past.
Rangers threw on DaMarcus Beasley for Novo as they tried to see the game out and a foul on the American gave Thomson a chance but he curled the free kick over.
Falkirk were let off the hook that time but another challenge on Beasley was to give the visitors the chance to open a bit of daylight.
The former PSV winger did really well as he muscled into the box and when he was hauled down, there was no doubt it was a penalty.
With Boyd having just been replaced by Lafferty, Miller took responsibility and he hammered his sixth goal of the campaign right down the middle from 12 yards.
At that, the hosts looked beaten and Miller, Lafferty and Beasley all saw good efforts blocked as they looked to add gloss to a good afternoon’s work.
The fact none of them could convert mattered little as Rangers had done enough then to make sure they came out on top in their first away league success since October 17.