David Melvin reporting from Falkirk Stadium

Rangers earned their first away win in the SPL since August with a hard fought 3-1 victory over Falkirk.

Walter Smith paired Jean Claude Darcheville and Daniel Cousin up front for the first time since the two strikers arrived from Ligue 1.

Darcheville was one of two changes from the team that faced Barcelona almost three weeks ago.

Charlie Adam and Brahim Hemdani dropped out of the starting eleven with Darcheville and Kevin Thomson taking their places.

But it was a defender who broke the deadlock when Carlos Cuellar's fourth goal for the the club put them ahead after 20 minutes.

He rose to meet a wicked corner from DaMarcus Beasley and his header floated into the top corner just eluding Scott Arfield on the line.

It was the least Rangers deserved after a good start, inspired by Darcheville on his first SPL start since he lined up against St Mirren early in the campaign.

It took just three minutes for the 32-year-old to register a shot on target after Thomson broke up play in the middle of the park and set Beasley away on the right. His pass found Darcheville in the right channel, but his shot from just inside the box was comfortably held by Falkirk keeper Tim Krul.

Darcheville's strength was causing the Falkirk backline some real problems, and he forced the first of a series of corners in the eighth minute. Beasley made the most of the blustery conditions to whip an inswinging corner into the six yard box.

Kenny Milne cleared back to Beasley but nobody was on hand to convert his second cross as it drifted too close to the keeper.

It was Darcheville who threatened again in the 15^th minute when he broke up the left after a poor corner from Russell Latapy.

Captain Barry Ferguson burst a gut to get alongside the striker and looked certain to score when the Frenchman played him in, but the Scotland midfielder pulled his right foot shot wide of the post from 16 yards.

Darcheville then combined well with Alan Hutton and the full back forced the 20^th minute corner that led to Cuellar's opener.

Rangers continued to pile pressure on the home defence to the frustration of home manager John Hughes. Referee Charlie Richmond giving him a talking to in his technical area with 10 minutes of the first half left.

It had little effect on his team with Rangers continuing to push for a second. A series of corners and free kicks caused problems for the Falkirk defence, with Darren Barr picking up a yellow card for a blatant trip on Ferguson as Rangers broke dangerously.

Hughes was clearly pleased to get his side in at half time and his team talk had the desired effect early in the second half as Falkirk looked for a quick reply.

However the Gers defence soaked up the pressure well and it was the visitors that found the net for a second time, ten minutes after the break.

Lee McCulloch broke free on the left and squared it for Darcheville to slot home the easiest of finishes from five yards for his fourth SPL goal of the season and third against Falkirk.

Falkirk reacted well though and had their best spell of the game. Sustained pressure forced a free kick when Hutton was penalized for a foul on Pedro Moutinho shortly after the Portuguese had replaced a disappointing Latapy.

It was Moutinho who was on hand in the box to fire home when Holden's set piece was knocked down in the 62^nd minute.

With Falkirk on top, Rangers continued to look dangerous on the break with Darcheville's pace a constant threat.

Steven Naismith was introduced as Rangers looked to for a third. Daniel Cousin making way after a quiet start to the second half.

Falkirk continued to pile the pressure on and introduced Michael Higdon an 71 minutes to replace Carl Finnigan.

But it was Graham Barrett who almost forced an equaliser, drawing a fantastic save from Allan McGregor.

The Gers number one did brilliantly to turn the effort over just as it looked like it would drop in over the Ibrox stopper.

Hutton then had McGregor to thank again in the dying minutes when he got down well to his right to turn away the Scotland star's diving header.

Kris Boyd replaced the hard working Darcheville with ten minutes left and it was the former Kilmarnock man that met Naismith's square ball in injury time to put a healthier gloss on the scoreline.

Rangers: McGregor; Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Papac; McCulloch, Ferguson, Thomson, Beasley; Darcheville, Cousin.
Subs: Carroll, Whittaker, Adam, Boyd, Naismith, Lennon, Fleck.

Falkirk: Krul; Aafjes, Barr, Milne, Holden; Cregg, Arfield, Thomson, Latapy; Barrett, Finnigan.
Subs: Olejnik, Higdon, Moutinho, Allison, Riera, Craig, Scobbie.

Referee: Charlie Richmond.