But Falkirk mounted a revival and Rangers were helpless to stop Alan Gow and Pedro Moutinho getting on the scoresheet to draw the game 2-2.
Although there were several scares in the opening 70 minutes for Alex McLeish’s side, they had predominantly bossed the game and should have collected all three points.
But they lost focus for two minutes and having not tasted victory since October 22 – and a trip to Kilmarnock set for next weekend – there are no certainties this dismal run is set to end any time soon.
Falkirk started with two former Ibrox players in their line up and the duo linked well in the opening minute to create the first chance.
With just 35 seconds on the clock Russell Latapy fed the ball through for Darryl Duffy to race in on goal. But Sotirios Kyrgiakos was alert to the danger and did well to dispossess the young striker.
Two minutes later Peter Lovenkrands raced up the pitch and delivered a wicked cross into the Falkirk box but there were no takers for the Light Blues.
Bob Malcolm picked out the Dane again a minute later and he found Ian Murray on the overlap down the left. The former Hibs defender did well to hold off Kenny Milne in the box giving Stevie Thompson possession and the towering hitman turned well before firing a curling shot just past the post.
It was a great move and one that should have led to the opener.
Falkirk have yet to win a home match this term, but their away form has been impressive and their confident play suggested they were capable of taking something from Ibrox.
They pressed well and when Kyrgiakos felled Moutinho inside the D, Latapy fizzed the resultant free kick inches past Waterreus’ goal.
The T&T international is a key player for John Hughes’ side and after 22 minutes he found Duffy again inside the Rangers box. But instead of shooting he unselfishly squared the ball allowing Waterreus time to smother at Alan Gow’s feet.
60 seconds later Lima raced on to a lose ball and his driving shot just swerved past the post.
After two minor scares, the home side managed to get a grip on the game again and in the 27th minute Gers launched a promising counter attack.
Thompson found Lovenkrands, who was clean through on goal and with just Matt Glennon to beat hit his first shot off the keeper, before the post denied him at the second attempt.
But the Light Blue faithful had to wait just four minutes before the deadlock was broken following some great play from Buffel.
Despite his lack of match sharpness, the Belgian was hugely influencial and after skinning Andy Lawrie on the left wing, tried a cross with the outside of his foot.
Unfortunately for Falkirk skipper Craig Ireland he was in the way and could only nod the ball into his own net.
After 35 minutes it should have been 2-0 when once again Buffel used fantastic trickery to suck Glennon into going to ground before finding Thompson on the penalty spot.
But the Scot delayed before shooting and hit the only thing separating him from the goal – Kenny Milne – to pass up a brilliant chance.
Eager to add to the tally, Alex McLeish’s side came bursting out of the blocks in the second period and Ricksen was unlucky when his long-range effort was fumbled away by Glennon in the 50th minute.
Gers then broke forward at pace five minutes later and when Chris Burke collected Buffel’s clever chip into the box and was clearly impeded by Milne as he raced to the byline. Ian Fyfe immediately pointed to the spot and Lovenrkands stepped up to fire a low drive past Glennon.
At the other end Duffy felt he should have won a spot kick almost immediately afterwards, when he collided with Andrews, but play was waved on.
Just when it seemed like the pressure had lifted slightly inside Ibrox, Falkirk pulled themselves back into the match when Gow’s long-range shot was deflected into the net by Andrews.
Two weeks again the Bairns came from 2-0 down to beat Hibs 3-2 and they did the unthinkable and bagged an equaliser with 20 minutes remaining.
Tiago disposed Thompson on the edge of the Falkirk box releasing Gow, who found Moutinho and the Portuguese forward broke into the area to slot the ball under Waterreus.
After 75 minutes Malcolm fouled Duffy on the edge of his own box and Gers’ Dutch keeper was called into action again to block Gow’s shot from the resultant free kick.
Ross McCormack was thrown on to try and repeat his Champions League antics but it was Steven Thompson who threatened to snatch a late winner.
He broke into the box after collecting a long ball forward and was livid when the referee failed to spot a foul from Milne in the 83rd minute.
Neither side managed to carve out much in the dying minutes and once again Rangers were left licking their wounds after another poor result.
RANGEERS: 4-4-2: Waterreus; Hutton, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Murray; Burke, Malcolm, Ricksen, Lovenkrands (McCormack 76); Thompson, Buffel (Jeffers 64)
SUBS: Klos, Pierre-Fanfan, Smith, Namouchi, N’Guessan,
BOOKINGS: Murray 50, Ricksen 63, Malcolm 74, Burke 90
FALKIRK: 3-5-2: Glennon; Santos, Rodrigues, Ireland (McPherson 38); Lawire, Moutino (O’Neil 76), Latapy, Scally, Milne; Gow, Duffy
SUBS: Ferguson, McBreen, McStay, Allison, Mesaoudi
BOOKINGS: Lawrie 63, Milne 64, McPherson 65
REFEREE: Ian Fyfe
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Thomas Buffel