Lawrence Shankland was the difference in Rangers' 2-1 win at Falkirk, scoring twice and finishing with a match-high 9.04 rating in Falkirk vs Rangers. His first went into the roof of the net off his weaker left foot, and the second was passed into the bottom corner on that same side.

That was the clearest sign yet that Rangers may have a frontman who can steady them after a slow start. Shankland now has three goals in four Premiership games this term, and no player on either side had more shots than his five.

Shankland's finishing gave Rangers the edge

Derek McInnes called it "a proper captain's performance out there tonight." He also praised Shankland's calmness and experience after the striker missed a chance earlier in the game, then made the decisive one count.

There was a bit of strain around the finish. Shankland had slid a low shot wide with the goal at his mercy shortly before the winner, so the response mattered. He did not let that moment hang around for long, which is probably the biggest positive for Rangers here.

The 9.04 rating sits alongside the obvious headline, but the more important point is how much of the attack ran through him. Only Djeidi Gassama had more touches in the opposition box, and Shankland's five shots were the most by any player in the match.

Raskin's return adds another encouraging note

Nicolas Raskin missed Rangers' past two matches, and McInnes was pleased to have him back in the side. "I'm just glad I'm able to choose Nico tonight," he said, before adding that Rangers "can do with his experience in there."

Raskin also started the move for Shankland's opener by winning the ball back in his own half. He was involved in the kind of sequence Rangers needed on a night where the result mattered more than the performance level.

McInnes sounded optimistic about keeping him, saying: "Obviously delighted if we manage to hold onto him and it looks like we will." That is a useful boost for Rangers, especially after the deadline-day noise around his future and the club's accepted loan offer for Thelo Aasgaard.

Rangers' league recovery is still fragile, but Shankland's start is not. Three goals in four Premiership appearances gives them a far better attacking reference point than they had a week ago, and Falkirk were the latest side to find that out.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →