Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland turns apology into Falkirk win
What a difference a week makes, as on Thursday evening Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland faced the cameras to explain how his side had thrown away their European hopes after a Conference League defeat to Jablonec, then, just a day later, he lifted the spirits of the Ibrox faithful by scoring the winner in a 2‑1 triumph over Falkirk.
Apologies to the supporters were made after the Conference League loss to Jablonec. The apologies were not accepted. The game was played on 2 September 2026.
Apology and fan response
Last night the captain lapped up the adulation of the same fans after grabbing the goals that handed Rangers their second Premiership victory on the bounce. The crowd, previously furious, turned vocal in praise. Their chants echoed around Ibrox as the striker celebrated.
Shankland still looks some way off the player who tore up the top flight with Hearts in recent years, but he is getting there, slowly but surely. Rangers are also building momentum, as reflected in the win. The side have now secured back‑to‑back league wins.
Managerial challenges and squad issues
Manager Derek McInnes served the first of a two-game ban on the sidelines, leaving a dozen issues to solve. His side nevertheless ground out a big result, echoing the performance at Pittodrie the previous Sunday. The suspension stems from an incident in the previous league match.
Nico Raskin and Co went in front after eight minutes, with the 25‑year‑old picking up a loose ball on the edge of his own box and feeding James Penrice, whose pass found Djeidi Gassama before the ball reached Shankland 18 yards out. The striker took a heavy touch but adjusted his body to rifle the ball into the roof of the net beyond a static Scott Bain. Raskin had been linked with Besiktas on Wednesday, but the deal fell through and he started.
Winning goal and future fixtures
That was Shankland’s third goal of the season and his first from open play. He later added a second‑minute chance that sailed over the bar after exploiting indecision in the Falkirk defence. The opening goal arrived eight minutes into the encounter. The win gives Rangers momentum ahead of a tough test at Motherwell on Saturday and an Old Firm double‑header thereafter.
Kim Min‑su, the South Korean, thought he had opened his account for Rangers midway through the half but his curling effort beat Bain and rebounded off the post. A second attempt from the same spot was parried by Bain, with Raskin skewing the follow‑up into the side netting. His movement created space for the Rangers midfield to dominate.
The club will also rely on the surprise inclusion of Raskin, who was omitted from the previous two squads amid speculation. His presence underlines the spark Rangers have needed in the final third this season. The Old Firm clash is scheduled for the following week, adding further pressure.