WHEN Ally McCoist dreamt of leading his Rangers side to silverware after taking over as manager, it is fair to assume the Ramsdens Cup would not have featured in them.

A competition exclusively for Scottish Football League clubs, it now presents the Ibrox boss with his first opportunity to win a trophy for the club, and it most certainly is not something he is going to turn his nose up at.

The very fact he fielded the strongest starting line-up available to him for the away tie to First Division Falkirk is proof of that.

It was, of course, at the same venue last season McCoist watched his team crash out of the Scottish Communities League Cup, so complacency was never going to be a factor. And, let's face it, Rangers aren't exactly in a position to be that way inclined these days anyway.

Starting their season with an away game at Brechin City in this competition would have been a reminder of where the Ibrox club find themselves at. So, too, would have been their first game in the Third Division up at Peterhead.

And last night provided yet another. On a night when their Old Firm rivals Celtic were taking another step closer to the Champions League group stage in Helsingborg, Rangers were facing Falkirk in the second round of the Ramsdens Cup.

As much as there has been a show of defiance and a display of unity as supporters have turned out in numbers to every game as well as snapping up season tickets, the harsh reality of the situation created by negligent owners must hurt.

But it is now an adventure the Light Blue legions have embraced and the challenge for McCoist is to make sure his players have the same approach and outlook.

There is no reason why, possibly with the exception of cup matches against SPL opposition, Rangers shouldn't win just about every game this campaign.

Put it this way, if McCoist does not deliver the Ramsdens Cup, it might not be the end of the world, but it is a competition he will want to win.

How could you not look upon it as winnable when he has a team, on paper at least, that should be more than good enough to compete with most top-flight clubs?

Third Division sides may never win the Ramdens Cup but a team like Rangers have never been in the bottom tier. While championship success is his priority, without any shadow of a doubt, McCoist has admitted himself the cup competitions take on more importance this season than usual.

And when you have a team which includes the likes of United States captain Carlos Bocanegra, Kirk Broadfoot, Ian Black, Lee McCulloch and Francisco Sandaza, it really shouldn't be too difficult.

However, it was anything but a stroll against Falkirk as they won 1-0 thanks to Andrew Little's first-half goal.

The creative play of the injured Dean Shiels was badly missed, although Brazilian defender Emilson Cribari came through the match well enough and replaced Dorin Goian, who completed a season-long loan move to Italian Serie B side Spezia earlier in the day, in the heart of the defence.

But, over the course of the 90 minutes, Neil Alexander found himself with very little to do and, for all Falkirk enjoyed a lot of possession, Rangers shaded it on chances and did look more dangerous in the final third than their hosts, despite a late rally from Falkirk.

"It was a difficult game but I think we just about shaded it," said McCoist. "We know we are going to get opposition that are playing in a cup final and they are going to be up for it.

"I thought Falkirk knocked the ball about well so it was a tough one for us.

"Emilson came through his [starting] debut well. You always wonder how players handle situations and I was very pleased with him. And the first thing Andy Little does when he gets the ball is he wants to get towards goal and I was delighted to see him score another goal."

Just when it appeared as though half-time would arrive without any goals, man-of-the-moment Little popped up to convert his sixth goal of the season.

Having looked well organised and defensively sound for most of the game, it was the first time the home team were exposed from open play, and the Northern Ireland internationalist made them pay by driving into the penalty area and slotting his shot into the bottom corner beyond Michael McGovern.

Prior to that, the closest McCoist's men came to finding the back of the net was when Sandaza failed to direct a header on target after Black picked him out perfectly with a free-kick directed towards the back post.

The second half was much of the same, with Falkirk knocking the ball about well while Rangers always looked more likely to increase their lead than concede.

It was job done for McCoist as his team progressed into the quarter-finals of the competition. He is in a position where he will accept success in any competition he leads his side into, and the Ramsdens Cup is most certainly in his sights.

It might not be a dream, however, it is now definitely a target.