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Dunfermline 1-4 Rangers: Ally McCoist's side storm back from early deficit & return to winning ways in style
The Gers managed to turn things around in a good performance at East End Park, with all four goals coming from different players suggesting they may not miss Jelavic's firepower
11 Feb 2012 14:35:00
By John Stammers
Getty Images
Rangers recovered from going a goal behind to run out comfortable winners against Dumfermline, in a much needed win for Ally McCoist's men.
The hosts were without on-loan midfielder Kyle Hutton who was unavailable to face his parent club with Jim McIntyre also still missing and keeper Iain Turner out following a back spasm.
McCoist, meanwhile, was still without Steven Naismith, Kyle Lafferty, Steven Whittaker and Jamie Ness. However defender Kirk Broadfoot and striker Kane Hemmings both returned from injury and made the bench.
The home side started well and created a number of chances early on. Firstly David Graham smashed an effort against the post, followed soon after by a penalty shout when Liam Buchanan appeared to be pushed from behind by Kyle Bartley, but the referee waved the protests away.
The Pars, who are bottom of the league table and without a win at home this season, took a deserved lead just after a quarter of an hour when Andy Kirk netted a low-shot from close range.
The lead was short-lived though, as David Healy scored from inside the area after a defensive mix-up where Alex Keddie's attempted clearance hit Maurice Edu and fell straight to the Rangers man.
The Gers were kicked into life by that goal and they dominated the rest of the half, doubling their lead through Lee McCulloch seven minutes before the break. The forward's shot from outside the 18-yard-box beating Chris Smith.
The former Wigan Athletic attacker was acting as Rangers' main playmaker and he had a good chance to double his tally just after the break but headed just over the bar.
The visitors continued to dominate the rest of the second-half and there was further misery for the hosts when they lost creative midfielder Mark Kerr to injury just after the hour mark.
With 20 minutes left to play when Sone Aluko fired a long-range drive into the top corner of the goal, with the ball moving in the air as it beat the home-side's keeper. The 22-year-old winger then showed he can also defend by blocking Alex Keddie's header off the line.
Five minutes from time McCoist's men wrapped up the three points to keep the pressure on rivals Celtic, when Salim Kerkar followed up to finish calmly after a superb stop by Smith from a Mervan Celik header.
| Bet: | Returns: | Rangers £15.00 | Draw £35.00 | Motherwell £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Rangers £15.71 | Draw £35.00 | Motherwell £70.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Rangers £14.00 | Draw £43.30 | Motherwell £85.00 |
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The hosts were without on-loan midfielder Kyle Hutton who was unavailable to face his parent club with Jim McIntyre also still missing and keeper Iain Turner out following a back spasm.
McCoist, meanwhile, was still without Steven Naismith, Kyle Lafferty, Steven Whittaker and Jamie Ness. However defender Kirk Broadfoot and striker Kane Hemmings both returned from injury and made the bench.
The home side started well and created a number of chances early on. Firstly David Graham smashed an effort against the post, followed soon after by a penalty shout when Liam Buchanan appeared to be pushed from behind by Kyle Bartley, but the referee waved the protests away.
The Pars, who are bottom of the league table and without a win at home this season, took a deserved lead just after a quarter of an hour when Andy Kirk netted a low-shot from close range.
The lead was short-lived though, as David Healy scored from inside the area after a defensive mix-up where Alex Keddie's attempted clearance hit Maurice Edu and fell straight to the Rangers man.
The Gers were kicked into life by that goal and they dominated the rest of the half, doubling their lead through Lee McCulloch seven minutes before the break. The forward's shot from outside the 18-yard-box beating Chris Smith.
The former Wigan Athletic attacker was acting as Rangers' main playmaker and he had a good chance to double his tally just after the break but headed just over the bar.
The visitors continued to dominate the rest of the second-half and there was further misery for the hosts when they lost creative midfielder Mark Kerr to injury just after the hour mark.
With 20 minutes left to play when Sone Aluko fired a long-range drive into the top corner of the goal, with the ball moving in the air as it beat the home-side's keeper. The 22-year-old winger then showed he can also defend by blocking Alex Keddie's header off the line.
Five minutes from time McCoist's men wrapped up the three points to keep the pressure on rivals Celtic, when Salim Kerkar followed up to finish calmly after a superb stop by Smith from a Mervan Celik header.
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