NafisaRangers skipper Lawrence Shankland produced another match-winning performance on Wednesday night as the Light Blues secured a crucial 2-1 victory away to Falkirk.
The result was exactly what Derek McInnes’ side needed at this stage of the season, particularly after a difficult opening period that has already seen Rangers suffer disappointment in Europe and drop points domestically.
There is still a long way to go, but Rangers are beginning to show signs that their season could be taking a different direction.
McInnes was forced to watch from the stand as he served the first game of a two-match touchline ban, but his players delivered the kind of response the manager would have wanted.
And once again, the man wearing the captain’s armband stepped forward when Rangers needed him most.
Shankland had already decided the contest at Pittodrie on Sunday, converting a penalty to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Aberdeen.
Just days later, the Scotland international went one better by finding the net twice at Falkirk.
His latest display could hardly have come at a better time.
Rangers knew they could not afford another disappointing result, particularly with Celtic having already beaten Falkirk 2-1 at the weekend. The pressure was therefore on the visitors to respond and make sure their own trip to Falkirk ended with three points.
Shankland wasted little time making his mark.
The artificial surface produced a frantic opening, but the Rangers captain showed remarkable composure inside the box when he collected a pass from Djeidi Gassama before firing a left-footed effort high beyond Scott Bain in the seventh minute.
It was a superb finish and immediately gave Rangers control of the contest.
The visitors continued to threaten and came close to doubling their advantage when Kim Min-su struck the post with a low effort from the edge of the area.
Rangers remained the more dangerous side for much of the opening period, with Bain forced into further saves, while Nicolas Raskin fired a rebound into the side netting after the Falkirk goalkeeper had parried another powerful effort from Kim.
But despite Rangers’ dominance, Falkirk found a way back into the game just before half-time.
Ethan Ross raced down the right before driving a low ball across the Rangers penalty area, with Kosta Nedeljkovic sliding in and inadvertently turning it beyond Ivor Pandur.
The own goal changed the mood inside the stadium and gave Falkirk renewed belief.
The hosts then began the second half with considerably more aggression.
Jacob Murrell forced Pandur into a save from close range, while the Rangers goalkeeper produced another important intervention to deny the Falkirk forward later in the half.
There were also moments when Rangers looked vulnerable, with Falkirk wasting opportunities that could have completely changed the contest.
Shankland himself had missed a chance to restore Rangers’ lead earlier in the half after being played through by Findlay Curtis, firing wide with only Bain to beat.
But the Rangers captain was not finished.
With 79 minutes on the clock, substitute Ross McCrorie found Shankland inside the box and the striker made no mistake this time.
He calmly guided his effort beyond Bain and into the far corner, sending the travelling Rangers support into celebration and putting the Light Blues back in front.
It was his second goal of the night.
And, more importantly, it was his second consecutive match-winning performance.
For Celtic, that could be viewed as the most uncomfortable part of Rangers’ latest victory.
The Hoops had beaten Falkirk by the same 2-1 scoreline only days earlier, but Rangers have now followed them to the same venue and returned to Glasgow with three points of their own.
Shankland has also delivered a timely reminder that Rangers should not be dismissed simply because their campaign got off to a slower start than expected.
The striker has now scored in consecutive matches to secure crucial victories, and his influence is beginning to give Rangers supporters something to believe in.
The message from the Rangers captain did not need to come through a microphone.
Two goals at Falkirk did the talking.
With two Old Firm derbies already scheduled for September, Rangers could hardly have asked for a better time for their captain to find his shooting boots.
Celtic remain the team setting the pace, but Rangers are still within touching distance and now have genuine momentum behind them.
Shankland’s latest double was therefore more than enough to secure another three points.
It was a statement of intent.
Rangers may have endured a frustrating start, but if their captain continues producing decisive moments like this, Celtic will know they cannot afford to take their rivals lightly when the Old Firm battles arrive.
Nafisa
