BURNLEY’S Scott Arfield made a match-winning return north of the border as his strike ensured the Clarets earned a 1-0 victory over Rangers in last night's pre-season friendly at Ibrox.

Scotsman Arfield, who featured against the Glasgow giants 11 times during his career with Falkirk including losing a Scottish Cup final, struck with 10 minutes remaining in the first half to give Sean Dyche’s side the win.

Arfield’s goal came 10 minutes before the break as he latched onto a long ball and calmly slotted home past Ranger goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.

It had been an even start up until that point with both teams finding joy in the wide areas.

Michael Kightly was first to make an impression as he burst through from midfielder and found Lukas Jutkiewicz but the striker, who had scored in both Burnley’s pre-season matches prior to the match, could only find the side netting.

At the other end Templeton dragged a shot wide of Clarets goalkeeper Matt Gilks’ goal while debutant Tavernier, signed from Wigan Athletic, saw a cross deflected into the hands of the Scotland international.

Fredrik Ulvestad was next to shine as Burnley continued to create chances with the midfielder finding Arfield but the chance came to nothing.

Tavernier was having some joy for the hosts down the right hand side and from another cross Martyn Waghorn couldn’t test Gilks.

The former Wigan man was a lot closer on the half hour when he forced Gilks into a superb reaction stop to keep the game scoreless.

And from the next attack Burnley made the striker pay for his profligacy as Arfield raced clear and fired home what turned out to be the winner.

Jutkiewicz had a half chance to make it two before the break but his acrobatic effort went over the bar as Burnley went into the break ahead.

Rangers started the second half brightly but couldn’t create too many clear chances and it was Burnley who went closer to doubling their lead when Kightly saw a shot saved by Foderingham.

A raft of substitutions stifled the match in the second half as both sides struggled to find any attacking flueency in front of a bumper crowd of 22,344 including plenty from East Lancashire.

In the end Burnley comfortably held on for the victory and they will look to make it back to back wins when they travel to Chesterfield for another pre-season clash on Saturday.

That game will see Clarets boss Dyche come up against the club where he made his name as a player.

Burnley then travel to Fleetwood next Tuesday before welcoming Bradford City to Turf Moor for Michael Duff’s testimonial on Saturday, August 1.

The Clarets will remain in Scotland and are scheduled to play a behind closed doors game against Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock.

Clarets: Gilks, Lowton (Ward 64), Duff (Keane 64), Mee, Lafferty (Taylor 64); Boyd, Arfield, Jones, Kightly; Ulvestad (Dummigan), Jutkiewicz.

Subs not used: Cisak, Taylor, O’Neill, Ward, Keane, Hewitt, Anderson, Dummigan, Gilchrist, Jackson, Whitmore.