GLASGOW (AFP) - Rangers moved seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 2-0 victory at home to Falkirk on Saturday.

Kris Boyd fired the Ibrox side in front in the first half, with his 15th goal of the season, and substitute Steven Naismith secured the victory with a late second.

With second placed Celtic away to Aberdeen on Sunday the result meant Rangers stretched their lead at the top of the table to pile the pressure on their Old Firm rivals.

The Ibrox side's manager Walter Smith admitted he was happy with the three points despite his side not being at their best.

He said: "It was frustrating we took so long to score a second goal. We started well and when we opened the scoring I thought we could kick on from there.

"But you have to give credit to Falkirk and after they lost seven goals they last time that was never going to happen again.

"Falkirk started the second half better than we did and it took us 15 minutes to get going. We then had our best spell but managed to waste all our chances. That puts you under pressure so we were relieved when Steven finally got the second for us."

Although Falkirk had been hammered 7-2 the last time they played Rangers at Ibrox in August, they started Saturday's match in a confident manner.

But in the 23rd minute the Ibrox side took the lead, after their French striker Jean Claude Darcheville was adjudged to have been fouled by Falkirk defender Kenny Milne.

Boyd took the free-kick, 20 yards from goal, and fired a fierce low drive straight through the defensive wall and past Falkirk's unsighted Austrian goalkeeper Robert Olejnik.

Rangers should have doubled their advantage at the start of the second half.

French-Algerian Brahim Hemdani slid Darcheville in on goal but the Frenchman opted to square instead of shooting and although the ball fell to captain Barry Ferguson he somehow failed to hit the target from only four yards.

As the clock ticked down Falkirk threw men forward as they looked to take something from the game but in the 88th minute they shot themselves in the foot to hand Rangers a second goal.

Defender Darren Barr was caught napping by Naismith who stole the ball off his feet before showing good composure to sidefoot into the corner of the net from 16 yards.

Falkirk manager John Hughes thought his side had lacked the self-confidence to beat Rangers.

He said: "Our ball retention was good but we were far too slow and didn't have the belief to go and score a goal. We are too predictable.

"Apart from that we played some good stuff but we just didn't have that cutting edge today and Rangers deserved their victory."

In the other SPL games on Saturday third placed Dundee United drew 1-1 at home to Hibernian in the early kick-off. Noel Hunt's penalty put United ahead in the first half but Hibs equalised through John Rankin after the break.

Hearts won 2-0 at home to bottom of the table Gretna, courtesy of a first half brace from Lithuanian striker Andrius Velicka, the second coming from the penalty spot.

Motherwell won 1-0 at home to Kilmarnock with David Clarkson scoring the only goal of the game near the end. Killie's David Lilley sent-off in the second half.

And St Mirren drew 1-1 at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Grant Munro put Caley ahead in the first half but Billy Mehmet equalised in the second half for the Saints.