Rangers failed to extend their Scottish Premiership winning run to five matches as a well-structured Falkirk earned another valuable point on their return to the top flight.

Both sides struggled to create genuine chances, with Rangers substitute Djeidi Gassama closest to breaking the deadlock in a contest lacking quality.

The draw leaves Danny Rohl's side nine points adrift of leaders Hearts - albeit having played a game fewer - and trailing Celtic by seven.

Falkirk, meanwhile, now have a five-point cushion inside the top six, the newly promoted side having taken 15 points from their last 24 available.

The expectation was that this might develop into an entertaining contest. It was a long, long wait that never really arrived.

Rangers started brightly enough but it quickly became clear that they were badly lacking creativity. Four changes in the forward line did not pay off.

It took a foul on Nedim Bajrami deep into the first half to wake things up. He responded by superbly jinking past three players but his curling shot was narrowly off target.

Falkirk had struggled to create, too, but came close to going ahead when Alfredo Agyeman closed Jack Butland down and the ball broke, but Rangers somehow scrambled it clear.

Moments later, Agyeman tested Butland again from a tight angle but it was saved well.

Things opened up, eventually. Gassama burst into the box on the counter but his strike was well saved by Scott Bain. Ethan Williams then tested Butland from distance and volleyed narrowly over.

Rangers continued to press forward but a goal looked beyond them. Ultimately, it was as Falkirk earned another impressive outcome in a season of many.

Rohl wanted a clean sheet but that's about all he can celebrate after this one.

Performance levels haven't been convincing but four league wins coming into this gave Rangers a platform to continue their progress in terms of results at least.

Until very late in the opening half, the lack of quality and creativity was stark. Little threat from the wide areas, particularly with Gassama on the bench until the hour mark.

So many misplaced passes. Home fans got agitated. Risk-taking largely absent. Few took responsibility to make something happen. The performance level was starkly low.

Put simply, Rangers looked miles off it. The empty seats in the stands suggest many feel they are not being entertained despite the run of league wins.

Falkirk took 14 points from their previous 21 available coming into this. A 3-0 win at Dundee United last time out only added to their confidence coming to Ibrox.

The structure was good. They held Rangers at arms length, for the most part. Butland was rarely called upon but they did cause a moment or two of panic that may have paid off.

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "If you draw, you ask what you can improve. We had some good moments, but our decision making was not always right.

"I cannot fault my players for their effort. When you are on your highest level, you make the right decisions, but the players are thinking too much.

"It was not everything wrong but we were not 100%. We have a long December with this group. I see positive examples but I also see players who can't use opportunities at the moment."

Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "We're a little bit disappointed because we think we're better than that.

"We're not far away from being a right good side and we've got to take belief from coming here and putting in a dogged performance.

"We turned the ball over too much and that's where we feel we could have done better. Still, we're very proud of the players - it's not easy coming here."

Rangers go back on their travels with a midweek trip to face Dundee United at Tannadice on Wednesday (19:45).

At the same time, Falkirk return home when they face the challenge of Motherwell, whose manager Jens Berthel Askou watched on from the stands at Ibrox.