Football News  

Miller's double gets Rangers title defence off the ground

 

SPL

A Kenny Miller double ensured Rangers got their title defence off to a perfect start, although they were forced to work despite beating Falkirk 4-1.

The visitors came out of the blocks with intent but Lee McCulloch settled the nerves of the home fans with his first goal since January 2008 from 35 yards on 14 minutes.

However, Falkirk were undeterred and equalised ten minutes later when Carl Finnegan pounced from Burton O’Brien’s cross.

But Miller’s goals either side of half time took the game away from Eddie May’s side and Steven Naismith added a late fourth.

Meanwhile Glasgow rivals Celtic also made a winning start with a 3-1 win at Aberdeen thanks to an Aiden McGeady’s double.

The midfielder netted twice in the first half before Scott McDonald effectively ended the game as a contest a minute before the break.

Elsewhere St Johnstone suffered heartache during their first SPL game in seven years twice surrendering the lead to draw 2-2 with Motherwell and Kilmarnock beat Hamilton 3-0.

And in the other game St Mirren fell to a 2-1 defeat at Hibernian.

SFL

Striker Colin McMenamin’s rescued Dundee from the clutches of their maiden First Division defeat as they left it late to salvage a 2-2 draw with Raith.

Gary Harkins fired Dundee in from the spot early on but strikes from Iain Williamson and Laurie Ellis before the break looked to have wrapped up all three points for the hosts.

But McMenamin had other ideas combining with Harkins and firing home in the 75th minute.

Stuart Kean scored with his first touch as Queen of the South drew 1-1 with Airdrie United, Dunfermline coasted to a 2-1 win at Morton while Inverness and Ayr also drew 0-0.

In Division Two Berlin shrugged off their opening week defeat to East Fife by hammering Cowdenbeath 3-1.

Arbroath downed Dumbarton by the same scoreline, Alloa beat Peterhead 1-0 as did Sitrling Albion against Clyde while Stenhousemuir drew with East Fife 1-1.

And in Division three Livingston were the pick of the day beating Montrose 2-0 thanks to striker Andrew Halliday’s first-half double.