Match ends, Partick Thistle 2, Rangers 2.
Partick ThistlePartick Thistle2RangersRangers2
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
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 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
Formation 4-4-2
- 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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 2, Rangers 2.
Post update
Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Paul McGinn.
Post update
Danny Devine (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Alfredo Morelos (Rangers).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Declan John.
Booking
Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Niall Keown.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Declan John (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Adam Barton.
Booking
Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Post update
Daniel Candeias (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Stuart Bannigan replaces Blair Spittal.
Post update
Conor Sammon (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Fábio Cardoso (Rangers).
Post update
Attempt saved. Josh Windass (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
