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Rangers logo
Scottish Third Division
Jan 5, 2013 at 3pm UK
 
Elgin City

1-1

Match Analysis: Rangers 1-1 Elgin City

Match Analysis: Rangers 1-1 Elgin
© PA Photos
Sports Mole takes a closer look at Rangers' 1-1 draw at home to Elgin in the Scottish Third Division on Saturday.

Scottish Third Division leaders Rangers hosted Elgin City at Ibrox on Saturday in search of their 12th consecutive league win.

Lewis Macleod got the hosts on their way in the ninth minute, but a terrible blunder from goalkeeper Neil Alexander saw the away side snatch a point in the final stages following Paul Harkins's red card.

Despite an end to their 100% home record, Rangers still hold a 17-point lead at the top of the table, while Elgin have slipped down to fifth place.

Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action in Glasgow.

Match statistics:

Rangers:
Shots 25
On target 5
Possession 71%
Corners 11
Fouls 14

Elgin:
Shots 2
On target 2
Possession 29%
Corners 2
Fouls 9

Was the result fair?

There should be an inquiry into why Rangers didn't win that one. The home side were utterly dominant throughout but they just couldn't take their chances. Elgin defended resolutely and they had a huge slice of luck for their equaliser, but they should have lost that match.

Rangers' performance

The Gers flew out of the blocks and were fully deserving of their opening goal. Macleod's strike should have opened the floodgates, but instead the hosts were wasteful in front of goal. There was plenty of pretty passing that ultimately went nowhere.

Elgin's performance

The away side might as well have sent out wax dummies for large parts of that contest, such was their ineffectiveness. However, they hung in there to come away from Glasgow with an unlikely point.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Barrie McKay: The second-half substitute gave Rangers a real injection of pace out wide and was responsible for some of his side's best chances. At times it was a pleasure to watch him breeze past defenders like they weren't there.

Biggest gaffe

Without doubt, Neil Alexander's blunder to gift Elgin their late equaliser. Stuart Leslie's header from a free kick was as weak as mass-produced lager, but the goalkeeper somehow let the ball squirm through him and into the net. Disastrous.

Referee performance

John Beaton was correct with the majority of his decisions, only to blot his copybook by sending off Elgin's Paul Harkins. It was certainly a booking, but a red card seemed mighty harsh.

What next?

Rangers: The Gers return to league action next Saturday when they host Berwick.

Elgin: City welcome struggling East Stirling to Borough Briggs.

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