Falkirk 1-3 Rangers

Published 24th Sep 2014

Dean Shiels marked his first Rangers start of the season with the crucial second goal as the Light Blues came from behind to claim a 3-1 League Cup third-round win over Falkirk. The Bairns took a fifth-minute lead at the Falkirk Stadium when former Ibrox youth Rory Loy pounced on a mistake by visiting goalkeeper Steve Simonsen to score. But the lead lasted barely 90 seconds as Bairns midfielder Owain Tudur-Jones turned a Stevie Smith cross into the roof of his own net. That left it to Northern Irishman Shiels to put the Glasgow side on course for Wednesday's quarter-final draw as he darted beyond the home defence on 65 minutes to beat Falkirk stopper Jamie MacDonald with a low drive. Falkirk had a decent shout for a penalty when Loy's shot hit Bilel Mohsni's hand in the box with a minute left. But referee Alan Muir was unmoved and Ian Black put a gloss on the scoreline with his dipping 25-yard effort deep into stoppage-time. Rangers were without their talented youngster Lewis Macleod and on-form striker Nicky Clark after both were injured in the dismal 1-1 draw with Alloa's part-timers on Saturday. But the Light Blues had Lee Wallace back after a calf strain ruled him out at the weekend. Shiels was also thrown into action following four substitute outings as he partnered Kris Boyd up front. But for the fifth game in a row it was the Scottish Premiership's record scorer who trudged off with a frown after failing to find the net.