A brave Dumbarton display could not halt Rangers’ perfect start to the season as a Martyn Waghorn double sealed a 2-1 win for the Ibrox side at the Rock on Saturday.

The Glasgow giants have performed better during the 11 match winning run since manager Mark Warburton took over in the summer, however Dumbarton were well drilled and proved difficult for Gers to break down.

Waghorn was the man to make the difference, netting a 25 yard strike in the 63rd minute, before converting from the spot 10 minutes later after Gregor Buchanan was sent off for a last man foul on Kenny Miller. Garry Fleming pulled one back for Sons from the spot in the last minute after Danny Wilson was adjudged to have fouled Frazer Wright in the area.

Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken made three changes from the side which played out a stalemate at Morton the previous week. Scott Taggart, Jordan Kirkpatrick and Frazer Wright were replaced by Mark Docherty, Willie Gibson and Eamonn Brophy.

Rangers boss Mark Warburton brought his side to the Rock on the back of 10 straight wins in all competitions. They also made three changes to the team which defeated Livingston 3-0 at Ibrox. Nathan Oduwa, Jason Hot, and Rob Kiernan were replaced by Kenny Miller, Nicky Law and Dominic Ball.

Dumbarton winger Willie Gibson proved a threat in the early stages, he would go close in the seventh minute. After Kevin Cawley was fouled 30 yards out, Gibson’s struck a good free kick but it dropped just wide of goal.

Rangers were heavy favourites to despatch of their part-time hosts but they should have been behind after 13 minutes. Gibson’s cross from the left found Garry Fleming six yards out, however the forward’s header came crashing off the right post and Rangers cleared.

Gers were dominant in possession but struggled to find a way through a well organised and determined Dumbarton side.

Foderingham was the next keeper to be called into action in the 33rd minute, Darren Barr got his head to a cross following a short corner but the Rangers stopper gathered easily.

The deadlock was almost broken twice by James Tavernier on the stroke of half-time. First the full back brought out a terrific one-handed save from Mark Brown with a strike from the right hand side of the box.

The summer signing from Wigan then bent a free-kick from 20 yards up and over the wall only for the ball to bounce back off the left post and away.

The second half started in much same pattern as the first had followed. Rangers were unable to penetrate a deep lying Dumbarton side content to kept men behind the ball.

Mark Warburton then made a double substitution to shake things up with Nathan Oduwa and Dean Shiels replacing Nicky Law and Barrie McKay.

In the 63rd minute Rangers got the breakthrough. Martyn Waghorn cut in from left and as Dumbarton stood off him he hit a left footed drive from 25 yards, the swerve on the ball seemed to wrong foot Brown as it sailed past his despairing dive and Rangers were in front.

Ten minutes later Gers wrapped up the points. Mark Docherty’s slack back pass was seized on by Kenny Miller who was clean through before a Gregor Buchanan challenge brought him to the ground.

Referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot and showed the red card to Buchanan. Waghorn stepped up confidently and converted the penalty for his eighth goal of the season.

Andy Halliday found Brown in sparkling form when the former Gers stopper produced a spectacular one handed save from the midfielder’s strike from range.

Dumbarton got a consolation in the closing moments when Wilson was adjudged to have held Wright in the area. Garry Fleming fired past Foderingham who got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.