But the Light Blues did not get everything their own way and when Carl Finnigan replied with a tidy finish ten minutes later a few nails were being bitten around the ground.
Any nerves soon evaporated as Rangers took control and an excellent double from man-of-the-match Kenny Miller, followed by a fourth goal from Steven Naismith, secured the first three points of the season.
Allan McGregor was given the nod ahead of Neil Alexander for today’s SPL opener.
Walter Smith admitted earlier in the week that his biggest dilemma would be who to select between the posts with Alexander a hugely consistent performer last term.
But the gaffer clearly believed it was time for the club’s No. 1 to return to the starting eleven and he put in a solid display throughout.
In front of him was a back four consisting of Steven Whittaker, Madjid Bougherra, David Weir and Steven Smith in for the suspended Sasa Papac at left-back.
With Pedro Mendes out with a thigh problem and five others missing John Fleck featured on the left side of midfield with Steven Davis and Lee McCulloch in the middle and Steven Naismith on the right.
This quartet were asked to support a front two of Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd and they did so at every opportunity.
The gaffer has also named four under-21s on the bench with Aaron, Andrew Little, Danny Wilson and Jamie Ness joining Alexander, Kevin Thomson and DaMarcus Beasley.
In the early stages Rangers looked determined to start in the right fashion although it was evident the new-look team would take time to settle in to their gaffer’s game plan.
A few wayward passes and a couple of late challenges – most notably from Naismith and Whittaker – highlighted a bit or rustiness and Falkirk were also positive in their approach.
Bairns’ striker Ryan Flynn tested McGregor with a curling shot from 20 yards after only ten minutes before McCulloch opened the scoring with an unbelievable strike.
Having dispossessed an opponent 30 yards from goal the Gers’ no. 6 blasted an unstoppable shot in to the top corner of Robert Olejnik’s goal.
After stating in the matchday programme that he is enjoying his central midfield role a goal like that might just allow him to stay there for a few games at least.
With an early advantage in place Rangers went in search of a second but they were to suffer a sucker punch blow when Eddie May’s side equalised.
Finnigan was the player on the end of a well worked move and his close range effort from an O’Brien cross squirmed past the helpless McGregor.
The goal stunned the Ibrox faithful but seemed to spark their team in to life.
On 22 minutes the industrious Fleck blasted over the bar and the youngster was again in the thick if things when he set up Miller moments later.
The striker, however, swerved his shot inches wide of goal from 12 yards.
Miller was to make no mistake when he bagged his side’s second on 34 minutes.
Davis, wearing his new no. 7 jersey, dinked a beautiful cross in to the box and Kenny bulleted a header high in to the net.
Rangers should have increased their advantage further on the stroke of half-time.
Miller chipped the ball over the defence to Naismith but Olejnik was quick off his line to make a diving stop at his feet.
With the keeper still on the deck the ball came out to Boyd who could only hit his shot against a defender.
Falkirk again started the second-half in a positive manner with McGregor having to react sharply to make saves from first-half substitute Alex McDonald, who replaced Vitor Santos, and O’Brien.
Steven Whittaker then tried his luck with a dipping left-foot curler which finished up in the Copland Road Stand.
As Rangers continued their search for a third Davis had his head in his hands on the hour mark when he darted in to the box and received a great pass from Miller.
He dipped his shoulder to get past former Murray Park kid Brian McLean but his shot from 12 yards went agonisingly wide of target.
Miller, however, was a constant thorn for the visitor’s defence and his second goal, his side’s third, underlined his qualities.
A neat dummy on the half way line allowed him to turn his marker and when Boyd laid the ball back in his path he was on his way.
Despite having options to pass he went it alone, skipping past two defenders before beating Oleknik with a powerful near post shot with his left boot.
To be fair to Falkirk they had peppered McGregor’s goal with long range efforts in the second half and they continued to use this tactic without adding to their tally.
The introduction of Kevin Thomson on 77 minutes for Kris Boyd was a further boost for the home support who gave Thommo a rapturous applause on his competitive return from injury.
And the points were secure with just under ten minutes remaining Naismith added a fourth goal.
Miller played the ball through to his teammate who made no mistake with a low finish in to the net after he had used his pace to dart beyond the Falkirk defence.
Miller should have scored seconds before the final whistle after he wriggled free in the box but his shot was blocked on the line and a deserved hat-trick was denied.
In the end though this was an excellent win for Walter Smith’s men who can only get stronger as the season progresses.
RANGERS (4-4-2): McGregor; Whittaker, Weir, Bougherra, Smith; Naismith, Davis, McCulloch, Fleck; Miller, Boyd (Thomson 77)
Subs: Alexander, Aaron, Beasley, Little, Wilson, Ness
Bookings: McCulloch (13), Miller (67), Whittaker (81)
Falkirk (4-4-2): Olejnik; Barr, Scobbie (Marceta 46), MacLean, Twaddle; O’Brien, Finnigan, McNamara, Arfield; Flynn (Mitchell 85), Lima (MacDonald 17)
Subs: Wagenaar, Roberston, Allison, Lynch,
Bookings: McNamara (38)
Referee: Mike Tumilty