Rangers beat Falkirk 2-1 with a late goal from captain Barry Ferguson in yesterday's Scottish Premier League clash to move seven points clear of third-placed Aberdeen.

Rangers are 19 points behind champions Celtic on 52 points from 28 games while Aberdeen, who lost 2-1 to the leaders on Saturday, are level on 45 points with Hearts but have a better goal difference.

"After coming back from a European game, (and a) long journey, we didn't reach the level we have done in previous games," Rangers manager Walter Smith said.

"The important thing was that we won the game. When you look at the weekend results the teams who are vying for second place all dropped points.

"Aberdeen have a game in hand, but they are all going to be tough games until the end of the season. So, if we do harbour any ambitions of finishing in second place then we will need that little bit of a gap," he added.

Striker Kris Boyd gave Rangers the lead with a neat, flicked shot over keeper Kasper Schmeichel from 10 metres in the 34th minute, following a diagonal ball into the box from Alan Hutton.

Falkirk fought back in the second period and Carl Finnigan latched on to a pass from Alan Gow to rifle a shot across Rangers keeper Allan McGregor from 15 metres in the 65th minute.

Rangers snatched the lead in the 73rd minute when Charlie Adam's free-kick near the right touchline sparked chaos in the box before Ferguson hooked the ball into the net from a metre out at the near post.

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