Rangers are shelling out big bucks for new striker - but man who came for free is proving worth

Rangers are set to bring in a new striker for £9 million but the man they pinched for free is starting to prove his worth in goals.

Lawrence Shankland may have endured a dicey start to life as a Rangers player - and captain - but his composure was the difference on a damp night in Falkirk as the visitors prevailed 2-1.

It was a message from Shankland to his manager Derek McInnes, and the new No 9 jetting in from the United States. Venezuelan hitman Kevin Kelsy won't take the shirt off Shankland without a fight from the Scotland man.

Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland celebrates with Ross McCrorie after scoring to make it 2-1 over Falkirk. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Banished to the stands as part of a two-match touchline ban, McInnes will have enjoyed watching Shankland display the type of finishing that made him the main man at Hearts. It is why Rangers activated a break clause in his contract this summer, to procure the type of finisher who can make a difference in tight matches.

Rangers were in a fight for the second game in a row but much like in Aberdeen four days ago, they found a way to win, which is so important as McInnes tries to mesh together a raft of new signings. Shankland made the difference from the penalty spot at Pittodrie and here it was his left foot that was Rangers' magic wand.

McInnes may well find a way to pair Shankland and Kelsy together. The South American plays more in the mould of injured striker Youssef Chermiti and the Ibrox club are certainly strengthening its armoury. Kelsy's deal is set to be confirmed in the next 24 hours.

Shankland once again benefitted from having the dynamic No 10 Kim Min-su next to him, while Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama were lively from out wide. The bigger issues appear further back in the team - even if Nicolas Raskin looks set to stay.

The Belgian holding midfielder started after Besiktas failed with a late loan bid on Wednesday morning. Raskin's future has been up for debate all summer, but it appears he will stay until at least the New Year. After missing the past two matches, the 24-year-old was deployed alongside Cammy Devlin in a holding midfield role, replacing the injured Dan Neil.

Raskin could have been sitting by the banks of the Bosphorous rather than in Forth Valley had events turned out differently. He is clearly a sellable asset for Rangers, especially after a strong World Cup with Belgium, but suitors have not been particularly forthcoming. Not that the small gaggle of Rangers supporters in the away end cared, singing his name right from the off.

Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland reacts after missing a glaring chance against Falkirk before he eventually netted the winner. | SNS Group

Shankland replaced him on their lips. Within eight minutes he put them ahead. Raskin started the move off, winning possession in midfield, and the ball was worked forward to Gassama. The winger cut the ball into the penalty box and Shankland took a touch, swivelled and lashed the ball high beyond Scott Bain. It was an excellent finish and his first for Rangers from open play.

Rangers were slick thereafter. Kim hit the post and saw a shot saved by Bain, with Curtis putting the rebound into the side-netting. Gassama blazed over the bar from a good position.

Falkirk had stayed competitive throughout the first half despite conceding early but their best efforts had been a couple of long-range efforts from Ryan Strain and Liam Henderson. They were given a helping hand by Rangers just before the break.

Devlin had his pocket picked in midfield on 44 minutes and Ethan Ross bore down on Olwethu Makhanya. The Falkirk winger surged past the South African and his low cross was turned past Rangers keeper Ivor Pandur by the sliding Kosta Nedeljkovic. It was a sore end to a first half that Rangers had largely controlled.

Shankland should have applied some balm on 51 minutes when Curtis dispossessed Henderson and played the Rangers captain in. Rather than whip the shot across Bain, he tried to place it inside the keeper's near post and put it wide. He walloped the ball against the advertising hoardings in frustration.

Rangers were regressing. Falkirk, however, could not take advantage with two Jacob Murrell chances within a minute of each other. Pandur was the visitors' saviour on both occasions, turning over a close-range header and then saving from point-blank range after a slack Emmanuel Fernandez pass. Murrell really ought to have scored the latter.

It was to be Shankland who had the final say on 79 minutes. Moments after Ben Krauhaus failed to capitalise on a mix-up between Rangers keeper Pandur and defender Ross McCrorie, the Ibrox striker made up for his poor miss earlier in the second half by stroking the ball past Bain after the ball was fed to him by McCrorie 17 yards out.