Rangers in seventh heaven

Rangers ran out eventual 7-2 winners in a pulsating Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash, which saw the Rangers goalscorers jostle for the plaudits.

Daniel Cousin and Jean-Claude Darcheville both grabbed doubles, while Boyd, debutant Steven Whittaker and Kirk Broadfoot helped themselves to a goal apiece.

Strikes from Arnau Riera and Graham Barrett for Falkirk were all but forgotten by the home crowd by the time the final whistle signalled time up at Ibrox.

Nacho Novo was rewarded for his winner against Red Star Belgrade with a starting role, along with Cousin. Darcheville, who has been nursing an Achilles problem, was named on the bench.

Whittaker made his debut on the right of midfield, allowing Lee McCulloch to switch to the left. Brahim Hemdani and DaMarcus Beasley were dropped to accommodate those changes.

Walter Smith's alterations to personnel were vindicated immediately when Cousin claimed his second goal in three matches, following his £1million switch from Lens.

Barry Ferguson's corner picked out McCulloch but his effort cracked off the crossbar, before David Weir saw a header blocked on the line. Cousin took advantage of the loose ball to prod home from a few yards.

Whittaker then forced Tim Krul into action with a powerfully-struck shot that the Falkirk goalkeeper struggled to hold.

But there was to be no capitulation from the visiting team - for now. The ever-green Russell Latapy pulled the strings in the middle of the park before setting up Pedro Moutinho. He dragged wide of target, before Latapy saw his own effort smothered by Allan McGregor.

Steven Thomson then floated a cross out to Moutinho in plenty of space on the right, with a clear sight of goal. The deftest of touches from McGregor was enough to guide the ball wide of the upright and maintain Rangers' advantage.

A second goal was required from the home side to stem the threat of a Falkirk team rapidly gaining in confidence and Whittaker duly obliged with 34 minutes gone. A short pass from Barry Ferguson was gratefully collected by the former Hibernian man before lashing home from just inside the box.

But it was Falkirk who had the final say of the first half when they replied with a goal of their own a minute before the break.

After five consecutive clean sheets and 494 minutes of football without conceding a goal, McGregor succumbed to Arnau Riera's 25-yard drive, which smashed in off the goalkeeper's right-hand post before nestling in the back of the net.

The timely intervention of Jack Ross prevented Rangers from restoring a two-goal advantage shortly after the restart. McCulloch sent Novo through on goal but, before he could pull the trigger, Ross stole possession with an excellent tackle.

But despite the best efforts of Falkirk, the 54th minute signalled another goal from Rangers.

Ferguson swept the ball across the face of goal, which skimmed across the wet surface and was missed completely by Novo, but fell fortuitously to Cousin to drill into the bottom corner.

With 20 minutes to go, both teams made changes. McCulloch was withdrawn for Boyd and the disappointing Michael Higdon made way for Graham Barrett.

Barrett seized the opportunity by helping himself to a goal with 72 minutes gone. Beating the offside trap, he drew McGregor off his line before coolly slotting past the Gers goalkeeper, his over-exuberant celebrations earning him a yellow card.

Not to be outdone, Boyd's seemingly endless wait for a goal came to an end two minutes later.

Alan Hutton punted a long ball into the box, Cousin provided a square ball across goal and Boyd - celebrating his 24th birthday - rifled home with relish from close range.

Darcheville then bounded off the bench to grab a goal of his own with three minutes remaining. Boyd's header came off the post and the Frenchman was on hand to stab home the rebound.

The former Bordeaux striker was on target again in the last minute, before fellow substitute Broadfoot grabbed a goal of his own in injury time.

Boyd, top scorer in Scotland for each of the past two seasons, had not found the net in a competitive game since netting in the 2-0 win over Celtic on May 5.