Match ends, Partick Thistle 2, Rangers 2.
Partick Thistle 2-2 Rangers
By Jane Lewis
BBC Scotland at Firhill
- From the section Football
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Stand-in captain Graham Dorrans rescued a point for Rangers against 10-man Partick Thistle in a pulsating match.
Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos cracked home his eighth of the season to give Rangers a half-time lead.
But a deflected, fizzing Blair Spittal free-kick and a Chris Erskine goal put the hosts in charge after 60 minutes.
However, seven minutes later Erskine was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Morelos and paid the price when Dorrans curled in the equaliser.
Thistle began lively as they sought their first win over the Ibrox club in 24 years, but Rangers knew that a high-scoring victory would move them to the top of the Scottish Premiership.
However, after 12 minutes they lost their captain Lee Wallace when he pulled up after his shot at goal was blocked. He was replaced by Declan John, who made his debut.
Daniel Candeias and Morelos looked dangerous on the attack and it was the latter who broke the deadlock after 19 minutes, quickly despatching Ryan Jack's pass with an angled shot.
Patrick Thistle did not let their heads drop and, but for slack play and poor passing, they might have made more of their possession.
Jack was in evident pain after a challenge by Ryan Edwards, which did not appear to be malicious, and the Rangers midfielder was able to continue after treatment.
Early in the second half, Fabio Cardoso senselessly climbed all over Miles Storey just outside the Rangers box. Up stepped Spittal to deliver a wonderful strike which took a deflection off defender Bruno Alves on its way into the net.
Thistle looked the more confident team and Spittal was again involved as the Jags went in front. James Tavernier played him onside as the rest of the Rangers defence came out, giving him time and space to knock the ball across the face of the goal for Erskine to slide in and score.
At this point, Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha had already substituted replacement captain Kenny Miller for Eduardo Herrera, with Dorrans taking on the armband, and following the goal he sent on Carlos Pena for Jack.
The game swung in Rangers' favour when Erskine's studs-up challenge on Morelos reduced the Jags to 10 men with 25 minutes to go.
Rangers pressed with the extra man and they were duly rewarded when, after benefiting from an incorrect throw-in decision, John played a lovely ball for Dorrans, who curled in a stunning shot to set up a frantic finale.
Rangers tried to make their extra man count but efforts from Pena and Morelos were kept out by Ryan Scully as Thistle held firm for a draw.
The sides meet again in the League Cup on Tuesday. On Friday night's evidence, the cup tie should be a cracker.
Line-ups
Partick Thistle
- 12Scully
- 16McGinnBooked at 45mins
- 5KeownBooked at 46mins
- 15Devine
- 14ElliottBooked at 83mins
- 13Barton
- 4TurnbullBooked at 79mins
- 7SpittalSubstituted forBanniganat 82'minutesBooked at 88mins
- 19Edwards
- 10ErskineBooked at 67mins
- 39StoreySubstituted forSammonat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Bannigan
- 9Doolan
- 11Lawless
- 17Nitriansky
- 18Sammon
- 23Sneddon
- 24McCarthy
Rangers
- 1Foderingham
- 2Tavernier
- 4Cardoso
- 22Bruno Alves
- 5WallaceSubstituted forJohnat 12'minutes
- 21Candeias
- 8JackSubstituted forPeñaat 63'minutes
- 10Dorrans
- 11Windass
- 9MillerSubstituted forHerreraat 56'minutes
- 20Morelos
Substitutes
- 3John
- 6Wilson
- 7Dálcio
- 15Herrera
- 23Holt
- 25Alnwick
- 27Peña
- Referee:
- William Collum
- Attendance:
- 8,264
Match Stats
Home TeamPartick ThistleAway TeamRangers
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away4
- Corners
- Home3
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away6
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 2, Rangers 2.
Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Paul McGinn.
Danny Devine (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Alfredo Morelos (Rangers).
Attempt blocked. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Declan John.
Booking
Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Niall Keown.
Attempt blocked. Declan John (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Adam Barton.
Booking
Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Daniel Candeias (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Stuart Bannigan replaces Blair Spittal.
Conor Sammon (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Fábio Cardoso (Rangers).
Attempt saved. Josh Windass (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Conor Sammon replaces Miles Storey.
Booking
Jordan Turnbull (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jordan Turnbull (Partick Thistle).
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Carlos Peña (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! Partick Thistle 2, Rangers 2. Graham Dorrans (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Declan John.
Attempt missed. Miles Storey (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Attempt missed. Blair Spittal (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Attempt blocked. Daniel Candeias (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Eduardo Herrera (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Josh Windass (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Dismissal
Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle) is shown the red card.
Foul by Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle).
Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Paul McGinn (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Windass (Rangers).
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Carlos Peña replaces Ryan Jack.
Goal!
Goal! Partick Thistle 2, Rangers 1. Chris Erskine (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Blair Spittal.
Attempt missed. Josh Windass (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
