Rangers stayed in touch with Scottish leaders Celtic on the strength of a 3-1 victory at Falkirk on Saturday.

DaMarcus Beasley worked the full 90 minutes, picking up both a yellow card and an assist on the Light Blues' opener.

Jean-Claude Darcheville could have put the visitors up after only three minutes, but he fired Beasley's centering feed into the arms of Falkirk keeper Tim Krul.

On the quarter hour, the Newcastle loan item made a better stop on Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson, but the Teddy Bears would strike paydirt in the 20th minute. Beasley's corner serve fell to an unmarked Carlos Cuellar who smoothly guided his header into the top corner.

Rangers would continue to pressure, but had to wait until after the break to double their lead. Lee McCulloch took advantage of a fallen defender to reach the touchline on the left side and his pinpoint low cross was easy pickings for Darcheville.

The Bairns would slice into the away advantage seven minutes later, with substitute Pedro Moutinho slamming home Dean Holden's knocked down free kick.

Allan McGregor preserved the lead late with a pair of fine saves on Graham Barrett, and Kris Boyd put the game away near time by converting an accurate pass from fellow sub Steven Naismith.

Rangers will now head to Stuttgart looking to clinch a place in the Champions League knockout phase on Tuesday before returning to the league chase with a Saturday visit from Kilmarnock.

Scoring
RAN - Carlos Cuellar 3 (DaMarcus Beasley) 20'
RAN - Jean-Claude Darcheville 4 (Lee McCulloch) 55'
FAL - Pedro Moutinho 4 62'
RAN - Kris Boyd 6 (Steven Naismith) 90'

Line-ups
FAL - Tim Krul; Gerard Aafjes, Dean Holden, Darren Barr, Kenny Milne, Patrick Cregg, Scott Arfield, Steven Thomson, Russell Latapy (Pedro Moutinho 55'), Graham Barrett, Carl Finnigan (Michael Higdon 72')

RAN - Allan McGregor; Alan Hutton, David Weir, Carlos Cuellar, Sasa Papac, DaMarcus Beasley, Barry Ferguson, Kevin Thomson, Lee McCulloch, Jean-Claude Darcheville (Kris Boyd 81'), Daniel Cousin (Steven Naismith 71')