Match ends, Brechin City 1, Rangers 2.
BrechinBrechin City1RangersRangers2
Workmanlike Rangers defeated Brechin City, but it came at a cost with injuries to Nicky Law and Ian Black.
Nicky Clark headed the winner after Fraser Aird's opener as Rangers move 32 points clear in League One.
Robert Thomson had drawn Brechin level just after half-time and the home side also had a strong penalty appeal when Alan Trouten was brought down.
The injuries to two key men will worry Ally McCoist ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final with Dundee United.
Law lasted only 26 minutes before he went off holding his hip then, on the hour mark, Black was stretchered off when he kicked the boot of Graham Hay as the defender attempted to block.
Brechin were also rueing their bad luck with Paul McLean and Jonny Brown both being forced off in the first-half.
The home side thought they should have been awarded a spot-kick after 20 minutes when Trouten's foot appeared to be clipped in the box. However, to add salt to the wounds, referee Andrew Dallas booked the midfielder for simulation.
It was a pivotal moment in the game as Rangers took the lead minutes later. Black won the ball in midfield, but his pass out to the left hit Brown on the shoulder when the defender should have had a routine clearance.
However, Brown slipped as he tried to get to the loose ball, allowing Aird to stroll through and calmly slot the ball beyond Graeme Smith.
Calum Gallagher was busy on the right wing for the visitors, but they couldn't carve up another chance and it was Brechin who created the better opportunities before half-time.
A series of corner kicks had Rangers pressed back and eventually substitute Greg Cameron was able to find space at the edge of the box, but he blasted the ball into the stand.
On-loan Dundee United midfielder Darren Petrie then tried his luck with a long swerving shot that Cammy Bell did well to tip over.
Another corner found Thomson, he couldn't steer his header on target, but he would have better luck in front of goal after the break.
Rangers were happy to stand off as Cameron was given all the time in the world to pick out Thomson, who had cut across Bilel Mohsni to the near post, and he knocked the cross past Bell from close range.
Ally McCoist's men were rattled and Thomson and Cameron both had shots blocked inside the box as the Glebe Park crowd sensed a shock was on the cards.
The hosts could not take advantage before the Glasgow giants rallied and, after Clark replaced the injured Black, the striker made an immediate impact; heading Rangers back in front when he met Jon Daly's cross at the back post.
Daly and Clark linked up again - the former Queen of the South man chesting down the Irishman's knock-on and volleying over the bar.
Aird was close to his second of the day when Steven Jackson's header back was short, but the teenager dragged his low ball just past the post.
Lee McCulloch headed a late free-kick over the bar as Rangers comfortably saw out the 90 minutes.
Brechin City midfielder Alan Trouten: "I think, by the look on Cammy Bell's face, he thinks it's a penalty.
"The ref said after it that it was either a dive or a corner, but it was never a dive even though that's what he gave.
"There was definite contact, but he's maybe touched the ball as well so he can give a corner. Now I've another booking, so I'm missing a game, so it's a double blow.
"I said to the ref, as you do in the heat of the moment, to ask the goalie, but he's never going to do that and change his mind.
"It was a massive point in the game because, if we get it and score, we go one up and we can either hold on to that or press for more."
Rangers manager Ally McCoist: "I don't think it's anything like a penalty actually.
"I think the lad takes a touch and our keeper has come out and made a good save.
"I thought it was a good save but also certainly not a booking for me.
"Nicky has scored the winner again and I definitely thought he made a large impact on the game.
"Outwith the goal, I thought his pace and his quickness and speed of thought to run through on goal was a big thing as well.
"We will certainly be looking forward to using Nicky more between now and the end of the season."
Line-ups
Brechin
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Smith
- 2McLeanSubstituted forCameronat 19'minutes
- 3BrownSubstituted forFergusonat 41'minutes
- 6Jackson
- 5McLauchlan
- 4HayBooked at 83mins
- 7TroutenBooked at 22mins
- 8Petrie
- 9Thomson
- 10Molloy
- 11BarrSubstituted forCarcaryat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Cameron
- 14Walker
- 15Carcary
- 16Ferguson
- 21Nelson
Rangers
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Bell
- 2Foster
- 5Wallace
- 8BlackSubstituted forClarkat 65'minutes
- 6McCulloch
- 3Mohsni
- 4Aird
- 7Gallagher
- 10Shiels
- 9Daly
- 11LawSubstituted forFaureat 26'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Clark
- 14Faure
- 15Crawford
- 16Simonsen
- 17Smith
- 18Peralta Sosa
- 19Telfer
- Referee:
- Andrew Dallas
- Attendance:
- 3,070
Match Stats
Home TeamBrechinAway TeamRangers
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away6
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brechin City 1, Rangers 2.
Post update
Foul by Greg Cameron (Brechin City).
Post update
Calum Gallagher (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Lee McCulloch (Rangers) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Booking
Graham Hay (Brechin City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Graham Hay (Brechin City).
Post update
Jon Daly (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gerry McLauchlan (Brechin City) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high.
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Corner, Brechin City. Conceded by Fraser Aird.
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Craig Molloy (Brechin City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Nicky Clark (Rangers).
Substitution
Substitution, Brechin City. Derek Carcary replaces Bobby Barr.
Post update
Attempt missed. Fraser Aird (Rangers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Attempt saved. Fraser Aird (Rangers) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Robert Thomson (Brechin City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Bilel Mohsni (Rangers).
Post update
Attempt missed. Nicky Clark (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Gerry McLauchlan (Brechin City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Bilel Mohsni (Rangers).
