Falkirk 0 Rangers 1:Kris Boyd ensured a positive end to a difficult week by firing Rangers to a narrow victory over bottom side Falkirk in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and keeping their title hopes alive for now.

The Ibrox side were under even more pressure to produce the goods in the wake of Barry Ferguson being stripped of the captaincy and suspended by the club, along with goalkeeper Allan McGregor, following their antics while on international duty with Scotland.

The display at the Falkirk Stadium was hardly a shining example of Rangers’ ability to cope without the pair in forthcoming crucial games but was enough to move within three points of leaders Celtic again.

Disparaging chants from a majority of the Rangers support aimed at the Tartan Army, Scotland coach and Falkirk defender Steven Pressley, and the Scottish Football Association suggested Ferguson and McGregor had the sympathy of at least some of their fans.

And, although the official line from supporters groups was that they supported Walter Smith’s hardline stance to suspend the pair without pay for two weeks, with speculation mounting that they have played their last game for the club, many will be concerned by how the loss of two key players will affect their title hopes.

Neil Alexander started between the sticks, while new skipper David Weir returned from injury, along with fellow defender Madjid Bougherra. There were also starting roles for Nacho Novo and John Fleck.

Rangers needed a positive reaction following what had undoubtedly been a turbulent few days and that is exactly what they got.

With the first real attack of the game, Pedro Mendes slipped the ball through to Novo on the left, who did well to cut the ball back for Boyd to rifle home his 25th goal of the season from six yards with just nine minutes gone.

Boyd had demonstrated solidarity with Ferguson by holding up six fingers - a reference to Ferguson’s squad number - when he was stripped of the captaincy by Paul Le Guen two years ago but there was no such show of support for the deposed skipper this time around.

To their credit, Falkirk tried to hit back immediately and had a lot of play but they struggled to transform that possession into clear-cut chances, with Alexander rarely troubled in the Rangers goal in the opening spell.

A lack of understanding between Novo and Boyd then cost Rangers the chance of a second goal. Mendes delivered a lovely pass to Novo who raced into the box - but he and Boyd attempted to unleash the shot at the same time and Falkirk were able to clear the danger.

Novo had the opportunity to make amends when he found himself in plenty of space in front of goal but he took one touch too many and Jackie McNamara was able to successfully block the effort.

Falkirk were aware there would probably not be a better opportunity to inflict a shock result on Rangers and they emerged for the second half determined to restore parity.

Thomas Scobbie saw a well-struck low shot flash wide of the upright, Burton O’Brien sent a 25-yard volley dipping over the crossbar, then Carl Finnigan went close with a volley.

At the other end, Rangers could have doubled their lead when Dani Mallo failed to gather a Mendes corner and Boyd volleyed over from just five yards out.

The last thing Rangers need at the moment is more injuries and they were dealt a blow when Lee McCulloch limped out of the action with 15 minutes to go and was replaced by Maurice Edu.

Another substitute, Steven Naismith, could have killed off any hope of a late Falkirk comeback when he threw himself in front of a Steven Whittaker cross from the right only to nod off target.

Mendes then sent a blistering long distance shot screaming over the crossbar as Rangers attempted to make the points safe.

As the game headed into the last ten minutes, Falkirk claimed for a penalty when Whittaker appeared to push Michael Higdon in the box but the pleas were ignored by referee Iain Brines as Rangers held on for the win.