On a night where plenty of his team-mates were panicking, Lawrence Shankland was a figure of calm for Rangers in Falkirk.
His two goals were decisive for Derek McInnes' side, earning a second Scottish Premiership win of the season days after the captain's penalty delivered the first at Pittodrie.
In an error-strewn game that lacked quality, Shankland was the difference maker.
His first whistled into the roof of the net off his weaker left foot, while his second - again on his left - was passed into the bottom corner with the game on a knife edge.
Falkirk boss John McGlynn summed up the Scotland striker's impact.

#shankland #game #lawrence

Derek McInnes said after Sunday's win at Pittodrie that he'd enjoyed his team's performance for the first time this season and it was easy to understand why.
It was really the first instance of Rangers displaying the required desire, hunger, guts - call it what you will - to claim an all-important maiden league victory. Dropping points again simply wasn't an option.
The win gave McInnes and the players a bit of breathing ***** e and you could tell at full time what it meant to people like Lawrence Shankland to get that monkey off their collective back.
The attitude shown in that game is the bare minimum demanded by the supporters and they will hope to see that added to by some exciting, attacking football as the season progresses.
On the transfer front, with just a couple of days left in the window, the manager referred to bringing one more player in, widely thought to be the striker Kevin Kelsy.

#time #season #derek #dropping

We asked for your views after Rangers edged out Aberdeen to earn Derek McInnes his first Scottish Premiership win as Ibrox boss.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Stephen: Nice to see a new signing playing creatively and passing the ball forward to create opportunities. Kim Min-su made me watch the game with hope rather than apprehension.
John: Much better with Kim around Lawrence Shankland. He looks a good, positive prospect with skill, a bit of pace and an eye for a pass. In the weeks to come he and Shankland will get goals.
Mark: The first half was going nowhere, although the second half was much better. I just don't understand why our midfielders keep taking the ball and then immediately passing it backwards, rather than turning and playing forward.

#much #playing #ball

Lawrence Shankland says being named Rangers captain has exceeded the dream he had of playing for his boyhood team.
The 30-year-old striker only joined the club two months ago from Hearts, where he also wore the armband and scored 88 goals in 171 games.
The Scotland forward succeeds previous long-serving captain James Tavernier, who led the Ibrox side to a Europa League final and won the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup during his 11 years in Govan.
The news comes two days before Derek McInnes' side starts their league campaign at Dundee United on Friday (20:00 BST).
"As a lifelong supporter, it was a dream to be here in the first place, but to get the opportunity to captain the club is a huge honour," Shankland said.

#dream #lawrence

Midfielder Cammy Devlin says it is "an absolute honour and privilege" to join Rangers under freedom of contract after leaving Hearts.
The Australia international, 28, spent five years at Tynecastle, making 171 appearances and scoring eight times.
He has been capped five times by his country and was part of their 2026 World Cup squad, although he did not play a minute.
Devlin, who has penned a two-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months, is the third significant arrival at Ibrox from Hearts this summer.
Striker Lawrence Shankland joined Rangers prior to representing Scotland at the World Cup, and Derek McInnes was appointed manager after Danny Rohl left for RB Salzburg.

Andy Halliday believes Rangers have the "perfect foils" for new striker Lawrence Shankland in Youssef Chermiti and Ryan Naderi.
Chermiti and Naderi often partnered each other in attack last season, with Shankland set to join up with Rangers' squad soon after having represented Scotland at the World Cup.
"In Youssef Chermiti and Ryan Naderi, I think it's two perfect foils for Lawrence Shankland," former Rangers midfielder Halliday told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"Two big athletic players with physical profiles who can do a bit more running than Lawrence Shankland probably can.
"And it allows Lawrence Shankland to stay in the penalty box and in between the goal frame where he's such a threat."

If a recent report from the French outlet Foot Mercato is believed to be true, Rangers have registered their interest in Sankhoun Diawara. But they are not alone in the race, with Swiss heavyweights FC Basel also making progress over a potential summer swoop for the FC Troyes centre-back.
The 20-year-old France U-19 international progressed through FC Solitaires, Paris-Charenton and Troyes academy ranks before securing a key role with the latter’s reserves in 2024. Following a few sporadic appearances, he cemented a first-team status earlier this year and helped ESTAC clinch top-flight promotion as the Ligue 2 champions.
With his contract at Stade de l’Aube set to expire next summer, Troyes would sanction an exit rather than lose him for nothing in a year. Diawara made 17 senior appearances last season across competitions [stats via Transfermarket] and is expected to feature more frequently if the French side succeeds in tying him down to a new deal, fending off interest from all suitors.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 19:John Souttar of Rangers looks dejected after the final whistle of the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Rangers and Club Brugge at Ibrox Stadium on August 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
But the rumours must have unsettled the youngster, who could aim for the next career move away from his homeland. Rangers are showing sheer ambition in the transfer market to overcome the disappointments of the previous campaign, and Derek McInnes, the newly appointed Ibrox boss, has promised more signings over the next couple of months, having secured five key signings already in Lawrence Shankland, Ross McCrorie, Ben Godfrey, Ivor Pandur and Dan Neil.

Derek McInnes refused to be drawn on links with a move for Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson but indicated "there's still more work to do" after Rangers made five signings this summer.
Lawrence Shankland was recruited from Hearts before McInnes was appointed Rangers manager and Ben Godfrey, Ross McCrorie, Dan Neil and Ivor Pandur have arrived since.
McInnes has been credited with an interest in bringing Bologna captain Ferguson, whom he worked with Aberdeen, to Ibrox.
"All I want to do is bring players of a high level, technical level, and ability to play for Rangers," he told Sky Sports.
"Obviously, there are a number of players that have been linked with us that do possess that, so I think it would be wrong for me to speak about any player individually.

Rangers have added to their defensive ranks with the loan signing of Ben Godfrey from Atalanta, with the deal running for the 2026/27 season and including an option to make the move permanent next summer.
The 28-year-old becomes the latest arrival at Ibrox as part of the club’s summer rebuild, joining Lawrence Shankland and Ross McCrorie in reinforcing the squad ahead of the new campaign.
Godfrey began his career at York City before rising through the ranks at Norwich City, where he became a key figure in their promotion to the Premier League. His performances earned a move to Everton, where he made a strong impression over several seasons before switching to Atalanta in 2024.
Since arriving in Italy, the defender has spent time out on loan, including spells with Ipswich Town, Sheffield United and most recently Danish side Brøndby, where he gained regular minutes in the second half of last season.
Godfrey said he was “delighted” to join Rangers and is determined to help the club achieve success, as he looks to re-establish himself with consistent first-team football in Scotland.

Hearts face a rebuilding job this summer - and not just because they have changed head coach and lost the man who led them close to their first **** le in 66 years in his only season in charge.
Scotland striker and Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland had already left for Rangers before McInnes joined last season's top scorer at Ibrox.
Beni Beningime has left under freedom of contract, fellow key midfielder Cammy Devlin has yet to decide whether to accept a new deal and there are doubts about the future of 43-year-old Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
Michael Steinwender and Frankie Kent are also among the departures and fellow defender Craig Halkett will miss the start of the season through injury, while reports suggest Claudio Braga - Scottish football's player of the year last season - and winger Alexandros Kyziridis could be next to be sold.
However, that is seen as a normal part of the buy-low, sell-for-profit strategy adopted by recruitment partner Jamestown **** ytics at Brighton and Union St-Gilloise.

Scotland face Brazil in Miami in final group game
Avoiding defeat would likely seal first ever last-32 place - narrow loss could also prove enough to advance
Shankland & Gannon-Doak in attacking Scotland XI; Neymar on Brazil bench
BBC Radio 5 Live commentary also available via 'watch & listen' tab
Morocco face Haiti in Atlanta in other Group C match

Scotland's spirited second-half rally was not enough to bring any World Cup joy as they suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Morocco in Foxborough.
After beating Haiti in their Group C opener, Steve Clarke's side needed only a draw against the AFCON champions at the Boston Stadium to all-but guarantee a spot in the knockout stages.
However, Morocco showed why they are ranked sixth in the world, scoring through Ismael Saibari after 70 seconds – the earliest goal Scotland have conceded at a World Cup, on their return to the big stage after 28 years.
Clarke's side rolled with the punches in a mostly one-sided first half but the confidence and composure returned after the break and there were a couple of penalty claims denied. However, despite the impressive turnaround they could not get back on level terms.
Clarke switched up his side by bringing in Nathan Patterson, Kieran Tierney and Ryan Christie for Aaron Hickey, Ben Gannon-Doak and Lawrence Shankland, and moving to a 4-5-1 with Che Adams leading the line.

Scotland and Morocco face each other this Friday at the Gillette Stadium of the World Cup. The match will be broadcast live at 23:00 on ITV 1.
In their last game, Scotland won 0-1 against Haiti (World Cup 2026). In their last outing, Morocco drew 1-1 against Brazil (World Cup 2026).
Scotland ( vs Haiti 2026-06-14): Angus Gunn, Aaron Hickey, Jack Hendry, Grant Hanley, Andy Robertson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Lewis Ferguson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Che Adams, Lawrence Shankland
Morocco ( vs Brazil 2026-06-13): Yassine Bono, Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui, Neil El Aynaoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Brahim Díaz, Bilal El Khannouss, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari

Kris Doolan believes Scotland head coach Steve Clarke's first priority is to "protect the herd".
A training-ground friendly with Norway was cancelled, with Clarke saying "it wasn't worth the risk". Norway head coach Stale Solbakken said Clarke was "unprofessional".
"This happens at club level a lot if they're arranging behind closed doors games," former Partick Thistle manager Doolan told the BBC's latest Scottish Football Podcast.
"Things change, plans change, things within the squad. The manager's job is to protect the herd. That's what Steve Clarke's doing."
Meanwhile, Doolan believes Lawrence Shankland should start Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti on Sunday after three goals in his past two international appearances.

Scotland have gone a long way under Steve Clarke. The shot that sealed their greatest journey certainly did. Kenny McLean was inside his own half when he let fly, a 50-yard shot in the play-off against Denmark to book a 3,000-mile flight across the Atlantic. McLean’s was the third wonder goal Scotland scored on one astonishing evening; Lawrence Shankland’s close-range finish was rather overshadowed by Scott McTominay’s overhead kick and Kieran Tierney’s long-range curler even before McLean added his injury-time entry to the goal-of-the-game contest.
It tapped into Scotland’s rich history. There have been tragicomic failures, a perennial inability to get out of the group, but also the moments of brilliance that lend hope. Scotland’s first World Cup in the Americas featured the goal that – with apologies to McLean, McTominay and Tierney – surely still ranks as the greatest in their country’s colours; Archie Gemmill’s slaloming strike against a Netherlands team who nevertheless reached the 1978 World Cup final, but only after losing to Scotland. “Ally’s army” nonetheless failed to conquer Argentina, manager Ally McLeod’s confidence looking more like delusion.
Now a Miami meeting with Brazil promises to evoke memories of their 1982 meeting and the David Narey thunderbolt that put Scotland ahead. The Scots were to lose 4-1 and to exit a third consecutive World Cup on goal difference.
All of which may have a pertinence again. Scotland are in a pool with 2022 semi-finalists Morocco and perennial contenders Brazil. Scotland and the Selecao seem drawn to each other: this is a fifth meeting and a stalemate in 1974 brought the Scots’ only point. Morocco beat them 3-0 in 1998, when such a scoreline could rank as more of a surprise.
Logic may suggest Scotland’s best chance of progressing is among the better third-placed finishers, involving having a respectable goal difference and beating Haiti. Scotland’s past indicates that is no guarantee: they drew with Iran in 1978 and lost to Costa Rica in 1990. They enter their ninth World Cup with just four wins so far: against Zaire, as they were called then, in 1974, Netherlands in 1978, New Zealand in 1982 and Sweden in 1990.

(Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Everton were represented across a number of international friendlies and World Cup warm-up games on Saturday.
Jordan Pickford started England's drab 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa with the Everton goalkeeper playing the opening 45 minutes.
Pickford made just one save before Thomas Tuchel changed his entire 11 at half-time, in a useful exercise, but a performance that has done little to raise pre-tournament optimism for the Three Lions.
Nathan Patterson will also feature at this summer's tournament in North America, though was an unused substitute as Scotland thrashed Bolivia 4-0. Brentford's Aaron Hickey was preferred at right-back, as goals from Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay and a Che Adams double sealed a comfortable Scotland win.

Ordabasy Shymkent and FC Tobol are expected to make offers for Hearts winger Islam Chesnokov, 26. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required)
Forward Lawrence Shankland, 30, wanted a quick move from Hearts to Rangers so he would not be distracted while at the World Cup with Scotland. (Herald - subscription required)
Rangers have intensified their interest in Hammarby's Swedish right-back Hampus Skoglund, 22. (TeamTalk)
Basel have had two offers turned down for Zalaegerszegi TE's Akpe Victory, the 19-year-old defender who has also been linked with Rangers among others. (Ben Jacobs on X)
Former Rangers left-back Jefte believes the manager who brought him to Ibrox, Philippe Clement, deserved a bigger chance in Glasgow. (Glasgow Times)

Former Scotland striker James McFadden expects Steve Clarke to take an attacking approach during tomorrow's final World Cup warm-up match against Bolivia.
Clarke's side beat Curacao 4-1 at Hampden last weekend and now have one game on American soil before they take on Haiti in their Group C opener at Boston Stadium on 13 June.
"I think more of a focus on attacking, obviously making sure that you're solid defensively, but hopefully we get to see some of the young players again," McFadden told BBC Scotland.
"Findlay Curtis came on and did really well [against Curacao], scored a goal. Lawrence Shankland as well, so I think we will see more of an attack-minded focus on the game because we have to go and drive it that way."
McFadden isn't necessarily expecting Clarke to start a full-strength team against Haiti, but he believes some players who missed out against Curacao will return to the fold.