Rangers, perhaps rusty on their first match back following the international break, never really got into the sort of rhythm that had characterised their early performances but were still well worthy of their win after further goals from Dado Prso, Kris Boyd and a cracking Thomas Buffel strike eliminated any chance of a shock result.
The re-introduction of Barry Ferguson was another plus for Paul Le Guen to mull over ahead of Thursday night’s UEFA Cup tie in Molde as was another clean sheet for Allan McGregor in goal.
Sasa Papac’s arrival on British soil had come too late for him to be considered for selection while, as expected, Ferguson had to settle for a place on the bench.
Le Guen did, however, make two changes from the team that had drawn 2-2 with Kilmarnock; Lee Martin dropping out to be replaced by Chris Burke on the left flank with Bardsley filling Alan Hutton’s jersey on the right side of the defence.
With Celtic having already collected three points up in Aberdeen earlier in the day, the onus was on Rangers to do likewise but they seemed sluggish in the opening phase and unable to find a way through a dogged Falkirk side who seemed content to eschew attacking width in preference of a block of bodies in the central areas.
The sight of playmaker Russell Latapy operating just in front of his defence – almost as a man-marker on Prso – perhaps best signalled the extent of the visitors’ attacking intent.
Anthony Stokes – on loan from Arsenal – looked their liveliest forward player but he was unable to convert either of his two attempts on goal during the first half, the first zipping over the bar and the second nestling comfortably in the arms of McGregor, again deputising for the injured Lionel Letizi.
It would take a moment of sublime skill to break the deadlock after 17 minutes after Boyd was shunted to the ground by Kenny Milne around 25 yards from goal.
It looked set for either Libor Sionko or Prso to have a dunt but instead it was Bardsley who boldly stepped up to curl a quite perfect free kick past the sprawling Scott Higgins for his first goal in Rangers’ colours.
Jeremy Clement was unable to repeat the trick moments later from a similar position – thrashing his free kick over the bar – but it only delayed the inevitable as Rangers eventually doubled their lead just short of the half-hour mark.
The goal owed much to the brawn and brain of Brahim Hemdani – again impressive in an unglamorous role – who skipped past a wild challenge to pick out Prso lurking around 16 yards out.
Fingers had been pointed at the Croatian following his two glaring misses against Kilmarnock last time out but he made no mistake on this occasion, neatly sidefooting a volley past Higgins.
Burke, the victim of a series of malicious and violent challenges as the match wore on, was unfortunate not to add to the tally following a slaloming run and shot but Le Guen would have been content with his team’s performance as he addressed them at the break.
The introduction of Ferguson at half-time for his first appearance in almost five months meant a reshuffling of the side with Burke restored to his favoured wide right role, Prso moving left and Sionko heading for the showers.
Rangers continued to dominate proceedings without possessing any real killer touch in the final third and against stronger opposition may have been made to pay for it.
Ferguson, playing much deeper than Prso had in the first half, seemed only to add to the congestion in midfield, often leaving Boyd as a lonesome figure in attack although the skipper nearly marked his return with a goal following a surging run into the box.
The loose ball fell to Burke but Higgins did brilliantly to parry his effort from close range.
Before the end of the match though he would be picking the ball twice more out of his net.
Boyd clinically converted a penalty after he had been fouled by Darren Barr – perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch as a result – before Buffel completed the scoring with a fantastic strike shortly after appearing as a substitute.
Struth, no doubt looking on from above, would most certainly have approved.
RANGERS (4-2-3-1): 22 McGregor; 16 Bardsley, 27 Rodriguez, 19 Svensson, 26 Smith; 8 Clement, 7 Hemdani; 14 Sionko (Ferguson 46), 9 Prso (Buffel 72), 17 Burke (Sebo 64); 15 Boyd
Subs not used: Robinson, Rae, Hutton, Adam
Booked: Burke (15)
FALKIRK (4-1-3-2): 1 Higgins; 5 Ross, 20 Barr, 15 Milne, 33 Scobbie; 10 Latapy (Lima 65); 4 Cregg, 28 O’Donnell, 7 Moutinho (Stewart 61); 11 Stokes (McManus 78), 8 Gow
Subs not used: Lambers, Twaddle, Craig, Dodd
Booked: Barr (39), Ross (43), Milne (85)