Rangers will rely on sod's law to consolidate second place and enhance their European endeavours. The home hiatus has enabled the club to re-lay a pitch that had begun to resemble a dirt-bike track. The manner of victory was hardly befitting the freshly-lain lawn, but success over Falkirk engineered a lush seven-point cushion over the chasing pack.

Walter Smith's side now require to overcome a 2-1 deficit to maintain an interest in the UEFA Cup when Hapoel Tel Aviv visit Ibrox on Thursday. On this evidence, they will have to improve markedly to proceed to the last 16, especially with the groin injuries sustained by Barry Ferguson, the eventual match-winner, and Karl Svensson. Thereafter, Rangers face a three-game series that will shape their season; testing fixtures away to Hibernian and Celtic followed by a return to Ibrox to face their nearest challengers, Aberdeen.

Six points from nine should be sufficient to secure a return to the Cham-pions League, a necessity rather than a luxury given the contrasting interim results released by the Old Firm last week.

"That can wait, first we have to take care of Thursday," said Brahim Hemdani after another immaculate performance. "The UEFA Cup is not enough for a club this size, though, we need to be in the Champions League and if we cannot win the league, then we must finish second."

Falkirk made better use of the new surface than the hosts for large swathes, nudging the ball effortlessly around the midfield triumvirate of Patrick Cregg, Stephen O'Donnell and the eminently elegant Russell Latapy. In his 40th year, the Trinidadian remains the epitome of cool from his drooping dreadlocks to his twinkle toes. He operates in what can best be described as the Jan Molby radius but patrols his beat with authority and verve.

John Hughes has revitalised the football nomad and, in familiar surroundings, Latapy did his best to derail Rangers' chug towards the Champions League. Hughes, no great admirer of reputation or established order, visited Ibrox with his usual enthusiasm. Falkirk's formation was fluid but it was a measure of their possession that it manifested largely as a 4-3-3.

Exploiting Rangers' evident weaknesses in the full-back areas was pivotal to the game-plan.

Pedro Moutinho controls a football the way a cat does a ball of string, affectionately but often with chaotic results. He would have woven Falkirk's best chance of the half had he not entangled himself around a third defender. On the other flank, Alan Gow looked every bit a Rangers player, in as much as the majority of his early passes found a blue jersey. He would later redeem himself with a central role in what Hughes described as "the goal of the match".

It is a necessary evil of the Bosman ruling that players can confirm a contract six months in advance and be expected to show loyalty against future employers. An adverse effect was inevitable and even Hughes and his assistant, Brian Rice, shook their heads at the neutering of his influence.

Kasper Schmeichel, the snow-haired offspring of the world's best-ever goalkeeper, was a spectator for much of a moribund first half.

Signed on-loan from Manchester City, he displayed his old man's instincts when he sprung off his line to thwart Ferguson, sent clear by an incisive Nacho Novo pass. Kris Boyd and Novo were starved of supply for much of the game but frustrated the excitable assistant, Ally McCoist, with their profligate hold-up play.

A muted audience accentuated a training-ground feel to the match but Boyd, inevitably, raised a cheer. Alan Hutton's diagonal ball was misread by Darren Barr and Boyd flicked the ball instinctively over Schmeichel.

A groin injury sustained by Svensson offered Sasa Papac his first chance to impress the new management team. The Bosnian was implicated in the demise of Paul Le Guen but he has yet to play in more than two consecutive games. Papac performed admirably in the second half but his ineligibility for the UEFA Cup leaves Rangers with a defensive quandary for the second leg against Hapoel.

Falkirk continued to probe and were rewarded for their patience. O'Donnell's header was left by Cregg on Gow's instruction and the Ranger-in-waiting played a delightful first-time pass to Carl Finnigan, who composed himself before lashing the ball beyond Allan McGregor at the near post for his first goal since leaving Newcastle United. Hughes' joy would be short-lived, however.

Parity lasted a mere eight minutes before Rangers scrambled a winner. Charlie Adam's free-kick into the danger area was shovelled away by Schmeichel, Papac's shot banged off Boyd's behind and fell to Ferguson at the back post for a simple finish. The captain's inability to complete the match will add to Smith's selection woes for Europe.

The introduction of Chris Burke for the anonymous Libor Sionko was essential to the recovery and his nimbleness ruined Falkirk's hopes of a second equaliser when Tam Scobbie was issued a straight red card for a rash foul on the winger.