Rangers ran out comfortable winners in a match were they seldom had to over extend themselves.

Phillip Bardsley scored his first goal for Rangers with a viciously dipping free-kick from 28 yards before Dado Prso added to their lead.

Rangers were able to bring skipper Barry Ferguson on as a second-half substitute and it was from his pass that Kris Boyd was brought down.

Rangers' top scorer converted the resultant penalty before substitute Thomas Buffel finished the scoring with a high-quality shot.

The home team's opener came from an unexpected source after Boyd was fouled by Kenny Milne.

Bardsley took command before firing a swerving free-kick which dipped past Scott Higgins in the Falkirk goal.

Anthony Stokes intercepted a weak Jeremy Clement pass but Allan McGregor easily gathered the striker's shot before Rangers doubled their lead.

Boyd appeared to be pulled back in the box but the ball broke to Brahim Hemdani whose clever cut back was volleyed home by Prso.

After 68 minutes Ferguson threaded a super pass through to Boyd who was blatantly pulled down by Darren Barr and the Scotland international smashed home the spot-kick.

Rangers completed the rout in the 78th minute when Steven Smith's pass found Buffel out wide and the Belgian international cut along the 18-yard line before producing a superb finish which flashed past Higgins.

Teams

Rangers McGregor, Bardsley, Rodriguez, Svensson, Smith,Sionko (Ferguson 45), Hemdani, Clement, Burke (Sebo 65),Prso (Buffel 72), Kris Boyd.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Rae, Hutton, Adam.

Booked: Burke.

Goals: Bardsley 17, Prso 28, Kris Boyd 68 pen, Buffel 78.

Falkirk Higgins, Ross, Barr, Milne, Scobbie,Moutinho (John Stewart 61), Cregg, Latapy (Lima 65), O'Donnell,Stokes (McManus 79), Gow.

Subs Not Used: Lambers, Twaddle, Craig, Dodd.

Booked: Barr, Ross, Milne.

Att: 50,196

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).