Two goals from Kris Boyd helped Rangers to a 3-1 win against a spirited Falkirk side.
Boyd grabs a brace as Gers go top
Rangers successfully held off a lively display from Falkirk to record a 3-1 win over the Scottish Premier League's bottom side.
After a bright start by the hosts, Rangers took the lead when Kris Boyd slotted a Madjid Bougherra cross into the net to score his 150th SPL goal.
The visitors then looked to have killed off Falkirk's threat when another quick counter-attack resulted in Boyd grabbing his second after Kenny Miller's pull-back had provided him with an easy chance.
But Portuguese forward Pedro Moutinho gave the Bairns hope when he prodded home after a Falkirk corner dropped into his path.
The game was put beyond doubt on 74 minutes when Falkirk captain Darren Barr hacked down substitute DaMarcus Beasley in the area and Miller blasted home from the spot.
The victory moves Rangers to the top of the league table with Celtic still to play later on Saturday afternoon.
Changes
Madjid Bougherra was back in the Rangers first team for the first time since the Champions League defeat to Sevilla back in September, after dominating the headlines for off-field issues.
Miller was also back in the side, along with Kevin Thomson and Nacho Novo, as boss Walter Smith made four changes from the side that lost at Aberdeen last week.
Falkirk made just one change from the side that lost to Hibernian, with Pedro Pele making a first start for the club ahead of Danijel Marceta.
It was Rangers who took the lead with 17 minutes gone when Bougherra supplied a low cross for Boyd and all that was required from the prolific goalscorer was to slot home from six yards.
The striker then picked up a booking for his over-exuberant celebrations.
Boyd had the chance to claim his second of the day when he ran onto a lovely pass from Miller and found himself one on one with Robert Olejnik but it was the Falkirk goalkeeper who won the battle and blasted to safety.
Lee McCulloch then came close with an angled drive which whistled across the face of goal and wide, before Novo drew a decent save from Olejnik as the Scottish champions cranked up the pressure.
Break
Falkirk could have levelled when Scott Arfield found himself through on goal but Allan McGregor did well to block with his legs and deny the youngster the equaliser.
Instead, it was Rangers who found the back of the net again after 36 minutes. Steven Davis broke before Miller collected out on the right and slotted into the path of Boyd, who lashed home from close range.
Falkirk did manage to pull a goal back four minutes before the interval when Chris Mitchell's corner was nodded down by Pele for Moutinho to prod over the line from inside the six-yard box.
Rangers almost restored their two-goal cushion within a couple of minutes of the restart when Thomson's free-kick found Novo at the back post but his attempts to stab home were thwarted by Olejnik, who did well to deny the Spaniard.
Bougherra then attempted to turn provider for Boyd again as the striker collected on his chest but failed to control properly and the danger was eventually cleared by Brian McLean before Boyd could pull the trigger.
Falkirk were also looking dangerous in flashes but Rangers came close again when Thomson's free-kick curled just over the crossbar.
The three points were secured when Beasley was brought down in the box by Barr with 72 minutes on the clock and - with Boyd now on the bench - the honours went to Miller instead, who confidently dispatched into the back of the net from 12 yards.
Lafferty could then have put the result beyond all doubt only for his point-blank header to be saved superbly by Olejnik but Rangers held on for the points anyway.
