Rangers and Alloa Athletic head into half time goalless following an uneventful opening to their Scottish Challenge Cup semi-final.

The Gers suffered an early setback when Lewis Macleod was stretchered off with a suspected hamstring strain, and things almost went from bad to worse for them as the hosts claimed the first meaningful attack.

Ben Gordon played a cheeky ball across the face of goal, allowing Greig Spence to test Steve Simonsen from close range, but the striker failed to get any power behind his effort.

Rangers barely threatened in the first half, coming closest when Kris Boyd headed a Nicky Law free kick over the crossbar in the 23rd minute, and there was a let-off for them at the other end shortly before half time as Liam Buchanan gained possession in a dangerous position and shot wide.

Alloa threatened again on the stroke of half time with Mark Docherty's deflected effort testing Simonsen again, helping the Wasps make a statement of intent at the halfway stage of the cup tie.