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Scottish League One
Nov 6, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Dunfermline Athletic

3-1

McCulloch (70' pen.), Daly (77'), Moshni (90')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Falkingham (80')
Young (69')

Live Commentary: Rangers 3-1 Dunfermline Athletic - as it happened

Live coverage of the Scottish League One game between unbeaten league leaders Rangers and third-placed Dunfermline Athletic.
2

Rangers beat 10-man Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 to increase their lead at the top of Scottish League One.

Lee McCulloch opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty, having been held back in the box by Jordan Moore, who was shown his second yellow card of the match as a result.

Jon Daly doubled the hosts lead just seven minutes later, but a Josh Falkingham strike gave the visitors hope, until Bilel Mohsni slotted it hope in stoppage time.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good evening, it's around half an hour until kickoff at Ibrox, where Rangers will be looking to make it 11 out of 11 in Scottish League One so far this season. Dunfermline Athletic are one of the stronger teams in the division though, so it should be a good test for the league leaders. Let's take a look at the team news.

RANGERS STARTING XI: Bell, Foster, McCulloch, Mohsni, Wallace, Black, Peralta, Law, Templeton, Little, Daly

DUNFERMLINE STARTING XI: Scully, Millen, Young, Morris, Whittle, Byrne, Falkingham, Geggan, Wallace, Thompson, Moore

RANGERS SUBSTITUTES: Simonsen, Faure, Macleod, Clark, Aird, Crawford, Hutton

DUNFERMLINE SUBSTITUTES: Goodfellow, Husband, Dargo, Martin, Smith, Ferguson, Johnston

McCoist has made three changes to the side that beat Stenhousmuir in the Ramsdens Cup at the weekend. Andy Little comes into the attack in place of Nicky Clark, while Ian Black returns from suspension, while David Templeton also returns, having been rested recently.

The danger man for the visitors will be Andrew Geggan, who is their top goalscorer so far this evening with five. Jordan Moore and Ryan Wallace have also been among the goals this season, so could also test the Rangers' defence.

This fixture was originally scheduled to take place last month, but international call-ups led to the team's postponing the match so they they would have their full squads available.

Despite being just two places apart in the table, 11 points separate the league leaders and third-place Dunfermline heading into this game, although the visitors can move up to second should they avoid defeat this evening.

Ahead of this evening's match, the Rangers manager told the club's website: "It would be really, really pleasing to extend our lead. After just over a quarter of the season, it would be a fantastic advantage to have. I don't see too many championship medals being handed out in November though so we'll have to keep our momentum going. If we're fortunate enough to beat Dunfermline, the result would give us a great lead at this stage but nothing more than that."

This is the first time that these two sides have met outside of Scotland's top flight, and their first meeting in almost two years. In the 101 previous matches between the two clubs, Dunfermline have won just nine, drawn 15 and lost 77.

PREDICTION! With just a few minutes until kickoff, let's make a quick prediction. While Dunfermline should provide one of the sterner tests of the season for the home side, I can't see anything other than a Rangers win this evening. I'm going to go for 3-1 to the hosts.

Here come the players! Both players run out of the tunnel ready for this evening's match, which should be just moments away now.

Dunfermline get the game underway.

Bilel Mohsni quickly wins the ball for Rangers, before David Templeton makes a run down the right wing for the home side, but he can't keep the ball in bounds. The visitors try to run at the Rangers box, but Wallace coolly taps it back for Cammy Bell.

Ian Black gets an early sight on goal, picking the ball up from Templeton on the edge of the box, but it's well blocked by Young. This has been a bright start by the home side, they know that an early goal could worry their opponents, and they're keen to get one on the board as soon as possible.

Rangers win a free kick around 25 yards out, which Ian Black whips in towards Templeton, but the midfielder can't keep hold of it. Rangers have not taken a first-half lead into their last three matches, but their looking sharp so for tonight.

BOOKING! Jordan Moore is shown a yellow card for catching Lee McCulloch in the face with an elbow, which has left the defender with a cut to his forehead. It looks like he's going to have to go off for stitches, as it's bleeding quite heavily.

Sebastien Faure is warming up on the sideline, while McCulloch has gone down the tunnel, presumably for treatment. Rangers will be hoping that McCulloch can continue, but the Frenchman would be a natural replacement if he has to come off.

Despite being a man short, Rangers are continuing to control the possession. Dunfermline know that the need to attack while their opponents are short at the back, but they can't penetrate the home side's half. Ross Millen looks to break from the back for Dunfermline, but Templeton drops back to help out in defence, and makes a solid block.

Dunfermline manage to apply some pressure up front, but Ryan Wallace's ball in for Robert Thompson is wasted when the striker drifts offside.

Nicky Law creates an opportunity from out wide, curling the ball in towards the in-form Jon Daly, who climbs high for a header, but Scully calls for it and punches it away. The home side are still down to 10 while McCulloch continues to receive treatment.

Dunfermline are awarded a free kick around 30 yards out. Falkingham curls it in, and it's deflected by Wallace, before Daly manages to make the clearance. The visitors are finally making their numerical advantage count.

There's another injury concern for Rangers as Mohsni is floored by a clash of heads with teammate Richard Foster, however it looks like he's got off lighter than McCulloch, who has been receiving treatment off the pitch for coming up to 10 minutes now. Rangers much be really confident that the defender will be able to return.

Falkingham finds himself clear in the Rangers' penalty area, but Peralta makes a decisive play, kicking it out for a corner. The visitors try to cross the ball back in, but Bell comes off his line to claim it.

CHANCE! The first real chance of the match falls to the home side as Templeton plays it in for Little, who heads it towards the goal, but it's parried away for a corner. Little appears to have picked up a knock in the move, having landed heavily following his header. Meanwhile, a heavily bandaged McCulloch had come back onto the pitch.

Sadly, it looks like this could be the end of the game for Little, who is being tended to by the club's medical staff, and the stretcher is out. It was a fairly innocuous collision with Whittle, but it seems to have shaken up Little, who is being fitted with a neck brace. Hopefully this is all just a precaution.

Little's teammates look concerned as he continued to be treated on the field. The medics are taking no chances as they carefully prepare him for the stretcher. Meanwhile, it would appear Nicky Clark is being prepared to replace Little.

SUB! Little is finally able to leave the pitch, having been carefully carried off by the medical staff. He gets a hearty round of applause as he's taken straight out of the ground. If we get an update on the injury before the end of the match, we'll let you know how he is. Clark does indeed take Little's place, before McCulloch heads behind from the corner.

A long free kick drops to Kerr Young as Dunfermline look to catch Rangers out following the lengthy injury delay, but some solid defending by McCulloch prevents Young from getting his shot away.

Peralta makes a superb run down the wing, showing some impressive footwork out wide before whipping it in for Black, but it's put out for a throw in by the visiting defenders. Wallace looks to launch the ball into the penalty area, but Young makes the clearance.

Rangers win their second corner of the match, which Peralta curls in towards Clark, who misses his chance, but McCulloch tries to drill it in from the edge of the box, but scoops it high, allowing the visitors to clear and head on the counter, but Foster makes the block. It's been a very open came in the last five minutes.

BOOKING! Kerr Young is booked for a wild challenge on Foster, who was also clipped by Callum Morris during the move, but it's Young who caught the referee's eye.

Dunfermline have certainly had a physical approach so far this evening, having already picked up two yellow cards and forced two Rangers players' off for treatment, although McCulloch was able to return. Meanwhile, it looks like Richard Foster has picked up an injury from his collision with Young

SUB! Rangers are forced to make their second change, with Sebastien Faure coming on for the injured Richard Foster. Rangers will have to be careful, with just the one change remaining, and the best part of an hour including stoppage time still to play.

CHANCE! Nicky Clark takes a powerful header from inside the box, but it finishes just wide. Scully was nowhere near it, so that would surely have been the opening goal had it been on target.

Temeplton sends a deep ball out wide for Wallace, who just manages to control it in time to cross to Daly, but Whittle clears it to set the visitors off on the counter. Geggan picks it up in midfield and shows blistering pace as he bears down on the Rangers goal, but he panics in front of goal and smashes the ball into the crowd.

BOOKING! Ian Black, who has just returned from suspension, is shown a yellow card for bringing down Falkingham. However, the booking is because the Rangers man kicked the ball away after giving away the free kick.

There's no fourth official at this game tonight, go there's no board indicating how much stoppage time there will be, but my count, it should be around six minutes following a series of injuries.

Rangers try to force an advantage just before the break, but Templeton's attempt to slot the ball through the middle is blocked by Morris. Meanwhile, Nicky Law earns himself a talking to after arguing with the referee over a foul. It appears he was expecting the Dunfermline defender to see a card for bringing him down.

CHANCE! Peralta shows great determination on the edge of the box to get the cross in to Clark, but the substitute turns the ball just wide.

HALF TIME: Rangers 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic

The referee leaves the field to a chorus of boos. The visitors have already picked up two yellow cards, but with two Rangers players having been forced off with injuries, the fans were clearly expecting some stronger officiating from Stevie O'Reilly.

The home side will be disappointed not to be ahead. They created several good chances in the extended opening half, with Andy Law having the only effort on target so far in this match, just before picking up what looked like a serious neck injury. As yet, there's no word from the club on the midfielder's condition after he was stretchered off the pitch in a neck brace after 25 minutes.

Let's take a look at some of the stats from the opening 45 minutes. Rangers dominated the possession, seeing 65% of the ball, and creating five chances to Dunfermline's one. The hosts have had two corners, while the visitors are waiting for their first. Dunfermline have made seven fouls to Rangers' six, but have also picked up two yellow, while only Ian Black is in the book for the home side.

Rangers' players will have to work hard in the second half. The physical nature of Dunfermline's play has taken it's toll, forcing the Ibrox side into two early changes, so Ally McCoist will have to be carely when making his final change. Lee McCulloch did have a prolonged spell in the dressing room as well, after taking an elbow to the face, but he was able to return with a lot of bandaging on his forehead.

Dunfermline's chances were limited by some solid defending by the home side. Andrew Geggan has looked sharp for the visitors on the counter-attack, but struggled to break into the box, with Lee McCulloch and Richard Foster, prior to his injury, making some crucial blocks.

With Rangers likely to be saving their final change until late in the second half, Dunfermline may look to bring on some fresh legs before much longer. They have the influential and experienced Stephen Husband on their bench.

The players are heading back out ready for the second half.

Rangers get the second half underway.

The club has now confirmed that Andy Little was knocked out before leaving the pitch in the first half. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital after leaving the ground, where he is expected to stay overnight.

Peralta looks to get involved early on, but his deep ball forward fails to find Jon Daly, before bouncing harmlessly into the arms of Scully in the Dunfermline goal.

Rangers are keeping the ball well in the opening minutes of the second half, but are yet to really test their opponents since coming back out.

BOOKING! There's another clash of heads, this time between Arnold Peralta and Alex Whittle, and the Rangers man is shown a yellow card.

BOOKING! This is getting so messy now, as Shaun Byrne tangles with Clark, picking up another booking for the visitors. Byrne clashes with Black moments later, going down hoping that the referee will show the Rangers man his second yellow of the game, but the referee is now fooled. It wouldn't be a surprise if the next card was a red though.

Rangers are probably still seeing the majority of the ball, but neither side have really looked like scoring since coming out for the second half, and there's quite an atmosphere on the pitch and in the stands at the moment.

Mohsni fires a long ball forward for Clark, who tries to pull it back for Daly, but Millen puts it behind for a corner, but Mohsni heads it wide from Peralta's delivery.

BOOKING! Lee McCulloch is the latest player to catch O'Reilly's eye, bringing down Millen around 30 yards out to earn himself a booking.

Millen takes the free quick, but it's quickly cleared, allowing Wallace to make a superb run on the counter attack before looking for Law, but Dunfermline manage to clear. However, Rangers win a free kick around 25 yards out.

Mohsni lashes the ball in, with Wallace and McCulloch both jumping for the header, but it's Young who reaches it first, tapping it behind for a Rangers corner. However, the corner comes to nothing, allowing Ryan Wallace to take it down the other end for the visitors, but Cammy Bell manages to punch the ball away.

BOOKING! The referee is getting great value out of his yellow card tonight. This time it's Ross Millen, who is booked for taking too long to take a throw in. It's worth the wait though, as Dunfermline force their first corner of the match from the defender's delivery.

SUB! The visitors make their first change, as Ryan Wallace comes off for Allan Smith.

Clark times his run forward perfectly to keep himself onside before bursting into space, but Whittle comes out to meet him, and forces a mistake from the Rangers man, knocking it out for a throw in.

CHANCE! Templeton delivers a superb ball for Daly, who was waiting in the box, but the striker can't quite reach it.

CHANCE! Daly is bearing down in the Dunfermline goal again, but Scully comes off his line, launching his body on top of the ball to make the save.

SUB! McCoist has been forced to make his third change, with the already-booked Arnold Peralta continuing to make so rather risky challenges. He's replaced by Kyle Hutton.

PENALTY TO RANGERS!

RED CARD! Jordan Moore picks up his second yellow for holding McCulloch back in the box.

GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Dunfermline (McCulloch PEN)

It's a flawless penalty from the Rangers skipper, who drills it low and powerful to the bottom right corner, sending Scully the wrong way. Just to clarify, it looked like it was Kerr Young who was initially shown the yellow, but it was actually Jordan Moore who headed into the tunnel, with no arguments over his dismissal.

The restart is briefly delayed while stewards remove streamers from the pitch.

SUB! Dunfermline make their second change as Stephen Husband replaces Robert Thomson.

The visitors are pressing hard for a quick equaliser, but Rangers know that one goal might be enough, given the scrappy nature of this evening's game, so have got numbers back to protect their lead.

GOAL! Rangers 2-0 Dunfermline (Daly)

It's an outrageous goal from Jon Daly heading in from the edge of the box from a long ball into the box from Sebastien Faure, who who looped it in from just inside the Dunfermline half. Rangers haven't got the ball to the striker often this evening, but he's ready as soon as he does get a decent delivery.

GOAL! Rangers 2-1 Dunfermline (Falkingham)

It's game on again, as Josh Falkingham bursts into the box, chipping the ball over Cammy Bell before smashing the ball into the back of the net. The Rangers keeper appears to have been injured in the build up, but he's trying to shake it off, with no substitutes left for the hosts.

BOOKING! Alex Whittle is probably a bit lucky to still be on the pitch after charging into Ian Black, catching the Rangers man in the back of the head with an elbow, but the referee, having already dismissed one Dunfermline player this evening, it lenient.

Nicky Clark runs towards the Dunfermline box looking to set up Black as Rangers push to restore their two-goal advantage, but Clark's delivery has too much on it, and goes behind for a goal kick.

Falkingham runs hard as he looks to set up another goal-scoring opportunity for Dunfermline, but Law steals the ball from the visitors' goalscorer, before passing to Templeton, who crosses, but there's no-one in the box for Rangers, and the opportunity is wasted.

Daly gets himself through on goal again, and has only to keeper to beat, but he scuffs his shot, and it goes well wide. However, it wouldn't have counted anyway, as the assistant referee flags the striker offside.

Dunfermline have upped the tempo as they try to find a late equaliser, but McCulloch defends strongly, before flicking it out to Ian Black, who tries to create an opportunity at the other end.

GOAL! Rangers 3-1 Dunfermline (Mohsni)

Rangers win a late corner, which falls is initially claimed by Scully, but the goalkeeper drops the ball, and it falls to Bilel Mohsni, who volleys it on the turn to seal the win with just seconds remaining.

FULL TIME: Rangers 3-1 Dunfermline Athletic

Well it might not have been the most attractive football this evening, and at times it was just brutal, but a thoroughly entertaining match at Ibrox comes to a close, with the hosts claiming a 3-1 win. Chances were at a premium early in the match, but a late surge by both teams resulted in four goals inside the last 20 minutes, while the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

The win helps Rangers to extend their lead at the top of Scottish League One to 14 points, while Dunfermline remain third, level on points with Ayr United.

The win will be marred by the injury suffered by Andy Little in the first half. The forward left the field on a stretcher and fitted with a neck brace after being knocked out while attempting a header. He was taken straight to a nearby hospital, but there have been no further updates on his condition as yet.

That's all from Ibrox tonight, but stick around for reports and reaction to all of tonight's games, including the Champions League fixtures and the last tie from the fourth round of the League Cup. Thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.

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Rangers manager Ally McCoist looks on from the stand during the pre season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle United at Ibrox Stadium on August 06, 2013
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