Rangers 4 / Falkirk 0 Alan Campbell at Ibrox

THE Bill Struth Main Stand was duly hanselled by Rangers' biggest win of the season, but despite the handsome scoreline this was a lethargic performance by Paul Le Guen's side.

The Ibrox side were due a goal or two, and unfortunately for John Hughes and Falkirk four arrived yesterday.

Although the afternoon belonged to the memory of Mr Struth, it will also be remembered for the return of captain Barry Ferguson to first team duty.

The Rangers skipper replaced Libor Sionko at half time and quietly played himself back into the side, although there was a bad scare near the end when, without any contact, his left knee appeared to buckle.

Ferguson's knee will be tested today, but Le Guen's initial reaction was that there is no cause for concern. Like most of the supporters the manager enjoyed the scoreline, but acknowledged: "We have some important games coming up and we must play better than today."

It emerged after the game that new signing Sasa Papac is ineligible to play in the Uefa Cup, but fortunately for Rangers the heavily criticised Karl Svensson didn't put a foot wrong in his best game for the club.

Not, mind you, that the home defence was greatly troubled; Struth was famous for his Iron Curtain defence but yesterday Le Guen could have fielded a metaphorical headscarf so insipid were Falkirk's efforts.

Strangely, given there had been so much fanfare before the match as John Greig unveiled the plaque renaming the main stand, the atmosphere was largely muted. It was almost as if players and spectators had downed tools to enjoy one of the last warm mellow afternoons of the year.

Just about the only incident of note in the opening 15 minutes was the booking of Chris Burke for a theatrical dive just outside the Falkirk penalty box. There may have been slight contact, but the winger, playing on the left, completely over-reacted and was brandished a yellow card by Stuart Dougal.

Any injustice the Rangers supporters may have been feeling was quickly forgotten. Kenny Milne fouled Kris Boyd about 10 yards in front of the box and three Rangers players lined up to take the free kick.

In the event Phil Bardsley, playing only his second game since joining Rangers on loan from Manchester United, struck a beauty round the Falkirk wall and into the corner of the net to the right of Scott Higgins.

Given the numerous easy chances Le Guen's side have squandered this season, it was ironic that this was only Rangers' second attempt on goal, but such is the random nature of scoring and 12 minutes later, after a similar period of inaction, there was a second.

Boyd appeared to foul Milne as he burst through the middle, but there was no whistle and the ball broke to Libor Sionko on the right. He cut it back into the middle where Dado Prso volleyed low and cleanly past Higgins to double his side's advantage.

Although Milne had been involved in both the goals, Falkirk had done little to find themselves staring at yet another Ibrox defeat other than being in the wrong place on the wrong day. But with the goals having shaken Rangers out of their lethargy, they were lucky to go into half time without further embarrassment.

Hughes' side had played competently, without remotely causing Allan McGregor in the Rangers goal to break sweat, but survived a few scares before reaching the sanctuary of the dressing room at half time.

Burke was making amends for his early Equity performance with some smart close control, and although he is not renowned for his shooting prowess he unleashed an effort from 25 yards which smacked off Higgins' bar with Boyd just failing to take advantage of the rebound.

The goal-hungry striker had two further near misses before the interval as Burke's trickery started to frustrate the Falkirk defenders, two of whom, Darren Barr and Jack Ross, were booked for their crude attentions. But any notion that this was to be a rare afternoon without a goal for Boyd ended midway through the second half.

Just before that, though, Burke managed to squander the type of chance which has had Le Guen tearing his hair out - although before the end substitute Filip Sibo contrived to miss an easy chance even more abysmally.

One-on-one with the goalkeeper after Ferguson had just failed to connect with Steven Smith's low cross, Burke hit the ball against Higgins instead of past him.

Four minutes later Boyd's moment arrived. The striker was held, and then brought down in the box by Barr in what seemed like a clear goal-scoring opportun ity. Dougal duly pointed to the spot and Boyd converted nonchalantly, but why the Falkirk central defender didn't receive at least his second yellow card, or more likely a straight red, was the game's biggest mystery.

Not that in terms of the result it mattered one iota. Thomas Buffel replaced Prso, a move which allowed the captain's armband to revert to Ferguson, and five minutes after his arrival the Belgian lit up the stands with a stunning strike.

Higgins in the Falkirk goal didn't move as the ball flashed into his top right hand corner from 25 yards. No doubt Mr Struth would have approved.

After that, Sibo's miss could just about be swallowed by the home support.