RANGERS claimed the scalp of top- flight opposition for only the second time since dropping down the divisions to book a place in the last 16 of the League Cup.

In the process the Ibrox club boosted their belief they can reclaim their place among the country's leading clubs in the Premiership next season.

A late strike from Man of the Match Lewis Macleod was all that separated them from Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the end of the 90 minutes.

But it was enough to put the Gers in the third round of the competition, where they will now face a trip to Falkirk next week.

Ally McCoist's side had played top-flight sides on four occasions since being dumped into the bottom tier two years ago, emerging victorious just once against Motherwell.

However, they thoroughly deserved this victory against Caledonian Thistle, one of the form teams in the country in the 2014/15 campaign.

Their opponents, who are currently level on points with Hamilton and Dundee United at the top of the Premiership, could have no complaints about the final outcome.

Graeme Shinnie and Ross Draper, two of the visitors' star performers this term, were both suspended for the game as a result of bookings picked up in the League Cup final last season.

The Highlanders were strangely subdued as a result and hardly threatened Steve Simonsen's goal all evening.

But Rangers, currently battling to win promotion from the Championship, will feel that this performance and result shows they belong back in the top flight.

Unsurprisingly, McCoist kept complete faith with the starting line-up that took to the field against Raith Rovers at Stark's Park last Friday night and produced their most impressive performance of the season.

However, the opposition on this occasion was far more formidable than they'd faced in Fife last week and Rangers struggled to break them down in the opening 45 minutes.

The best scoring chance of the half fell to Kris Boyd in 16 minutes after he was sent clean through on goal by his fellow-frontman Nicky Clark.

The striker outsprinted David Raven and flicked a shot at goal with the outside of his right foot but Dean Brill did well to deny him with his outstretched left foot.

That was one of the few times the Inverness keeper was troubled in a disappointing first half that did little to get the fans who had bothered to turn up on their feet.

Players from both sides clearly grew frustrated at their inability to engineer an opening and referee Crawford Allan dished out four yellow cards before the break. Ian Black and Macleod were both cautioned for fouls on Danny Williams and Marley Watkins respectively.

Meanwhile, Aaron Doran and Greg Tansey from John Hughes' side were booked for bad challenges on Fraser Aird and Nicky Law.

Bilel Mohsni, who was preferred at centre-half to summer signing Marius Zaliukas, nearly gifted the visitors the crucial opening goal in the 57th minute with yet another slack piece of defending.

Despite nobody pressurising him, the defender gifted the ball to Watkins who took the misplaced pass gratefully and advanced into the home side's penalty box. He squared it to Billy McKay and you would have expected the Northern Ireland internationalist to bury the ball beyond Simonsen.

However, he shot wide of the post, much to the relief of the Rangers supporters in the sparse crowd of 15,208 dotted around the stadium - not to mention Mohsni.

A few minutes later it was the turn of Gers winger Aird to squander a chance after his flatmate Macleod had teed him up beautifully with an inch-perfect crossfield pass.

The Canadian should really have shot after controlling the ball. However, he hesitated, attempted to cut inside and surrendered possession.

The youngster had a disappointing night and failed to make an impact on the game. He left the field shortly after that as McCoist made a couple of necessary changes.

THE Rangers boss threw on David Templeton for Aird and replaced Boyd - who had hardly been involved due to the lack of quality service -with Jon Daly.

The substitutions soon paid off as the Light Blues took the lead in 78 minutes after having a penalty claim waved away by the match official.

Law burst into the box and attempted to cut the ball back for one of his team-mates.

His cross appeared to strike Tansey's outstretched arm but ref Allan ignored the appeals.

The ball then fell kindly to Macleod and the 20-year-old midfielder lashed in a right-foot shot that deflected into the net off the knee of the unfortunate Josh Meekings.

The famous old stadium may have been less than a third full but those who had turned up raised the roof with delight.

Templeton almost built on his team's tally in 83 minutes after going on a powerful run directly at the Inverness goal.

But his shot was palmed clear by Brill. Inverness then threw caution to the wind after that and nearly drew level on two occasions in the closing stages of a cup tie that had suddenly came to life.

Substitute Ryan Christie, who had replaced Williams, headed a Watkins cross at goal only to see it cleared off the line by the well-positioned Gers midfielder Black.

Gary Warren thought he had snatched an equaliser in the final minute only for assistant referee Graham McNellie to rule his effort offside.