Rangers v Falkirk

Rangers 3

McCulloch 18′, 52′ Little 32′

Falkirk 0

FT 90 +3
HT 2-0

Highlights - Rangers 3-0 Falkirk

Rangers cruised into the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup with victory against Falkirk.

Falkirk started positively, David Wheatherston striking the post with an early shot.

But the hosts moved into the lead when Lee McCulloch headed home and Andy Little continued his recent scoring form with Rangers' second.

McCulloch took advantage of a defensive mix-up to fire his second of the evening seven minutes after the break.

The Ibrox side, who last week knocked the Bairns out of the Ramsdens Cup, join seven fellow Scottish Football League clubs and eight Scottish Premier League sides in Monday's third round draw.

Little scored his eighth goal of the season and his second in nine days against Falkirk

Rangers manager Ally McCoist took his place in the dugout after receiving a suspended three-match touchline ban in the run-up to kick-off.

On the park, Falkirk almost took the lead when Wheatherston's shot came back off the post and Rangers goalkeeper Neil Alexander struggled to deal with a cross by Lyle Taylor moments later.

Rangers responded with McCulloch flashing a shot wide from the edge of the box.

However, the former Wigan player did find the net on 18 minutes, powerfully nodding Ian Black's corner past Michael McGovern.

Sebastien Faure almost marked his Rangers debut with a goal, McGovern blocking the Frenchman's long-range shot before tipping over a Little header.

Dean Shiels, back after a two-game injury absence, was the architect of Rangers' second, superbly laying on the pass for his Northern Ireland teammate Little to finish.

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Interview - Rangers manager Ally McCoist

Blair Alston had a shot saved as Falkirk bid to reduce their arrears and Taylor's 30-yard free-kick early in the second half drifted wide.

And McCoist's men made sure of progress to the next round when McGovern came off his line to retrieve McCulloch's lofted ball but the keeper was left stranded after an intervention by Chris Smith and McCulloch profited with a composed finish.

Youngsters Barry McKay and Robbie Crawford as well as experienced forward Kevin Kyle made appearances from the bench as Rangers withdrew Shiels, Faure and Lewis MacLeod.

And Kyle created a chance for Little with a headed knock-down but the club's top scorer chipped too high with the goal at his mercy.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist: "Miles better, no comparison. I was really disappointed at the way we passed the ball and performed in Berwick. Tonight was a lot better.

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Interview - Falkirk manager Steven Pressley

"Some of the passing was excellent but I still believe we can do better when we've got the ball.

"The most pleasing aspect of our game was getting the ball back, closing down and hunting in packs. I thought we were excellent at that and I thought we deserved to win the game."

Falkirk manager Steven Pressley: "My players gave me absolutely everything.

"We just lost goals at key moments. We created a couple of really good opportunites, we hit the inside of the post.

"After that good start, we lost a goal to a set play and that gave Rangers confidence."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Rangers

01 Alexander
02 Argiriou
03 Bocanegra
04 Cribari
05 Wallace Booked
06 McCulloch
07 Faure (Kyle - 77' )
08 Black
10 Shiels (McKay - 63' )
11 MacLeod (Crawford - 77' )
09 Little

Substitutes

16 Gallacher
12 Christopher Hegarty
15 Crawford
14 Kyle
17 McKay

Falkirk

01 McGovern
02 Duffy
03 Kingsley
04 Flynn
05 Smith
06 Fulton
07 Alston
08 Murdoch
09 Taylor
10 Sibbald (Haworth - 70' )
11 Weatherston (Fulton - 86' )

Substitutes

17 Bowman
12 McGeever
14 Fulton
15 Haworth
16 White

Ref: Muir

Att: 26,450

Match Stats

Possession 57 43

Shots

15 6

On target

9 2

Corners

7 2

Fouls

14 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:09 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +1:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Barrie McKay by Stephen Kingsley. Anestis Argyriou restarts play with the free kick.

89:47

Ian Black takes a shot from a long way out clearing the bar.

88:45

Chris Smith fouled by Andrew Little, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Flynn.

88:12

The ball is delivered by Andrew Haworth.

86:54

Shot from deep inside the area by Andrew Little goes over the bar.

85:16 Substitution

Substitution (Falkirk) makes a substitution, with Dale Fulton coming on for David Weatherston.