ANDRIUS Velicka netted his first competitive goal for Rangers as they went some way to making amends for their shock European exit with a 1-0 win at Falkirk in the opening game of the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League season.

The good news is that three points from their SPL opener eases the pressure slightly on the Ibrox club following a week to forget - the bad news is they looked far from convincing for the first hour of this game.

Falkirk should have been ahead through a Michael Higdon penalty but a fine save from Allan McGregor after a foul by Steven Whittaker kept the scoreline level, before summer signing Velicka netted the decisive goal.

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo enjoyed a winning debut in the SPL as his side edged to a 3-2 victory against Motherwell.

The Jambos always had the edge against Mark McGhee's men and substitute Saulius Mikoliunas fired a late winner just after David Clarkson's second equaliser.

Some slack defending had allowed both Michael Stewart and Audrius Ksanavicius to put Hearts in front during the first half.

An 80th-minute strike from Kilmarnock substitute Jamie Hamill gave the Ayrshire side all three points as they saw off struggling Hibernian 1-0 at Rugby Park.

The Easter Road side went into the game without a win in eight pre-season games, their plight highlighted when former Killie striker Colin Nish missed a first-half sitter.

But with the game heading for a draw, Hamill drove a David Fernandez pass into the corner of the net from 25 yards out.

Jimmy Calderwood's Aberdeen side made a losing start to the season as goals from Andy Barrowman and Roy McBain gave Inverness a 2-0 win at Pittodrie.

Former Birmingham striker Barrowman latched on to Ross Tokely's 27th-minute cross to give Craig Brewster's men the advantage.

And McBain scored late on to complete a fine win for Caley Thistle.