Linlithgow Rose 1-3 Queen’s Park: visitors avoid early scare to progress in scottish cup
Linlithgow Rose 1-3 Queen’s Park McMullan (15′) Murray (26′) Savoury (57′) Fowler (68′) Queen’s Park secured passage to the 4th round of the Scottish Cup after coming from behind to defeat Linlithgow Rose at Prestonfield. The lowland league side took an unlikely lead on the 15 minute mark. Connor McMullan side-footed Cammy Thomson’s low cross in the bottom corner. The visitors responded ten minutes later from a corner. Aidan Connolly’s left footed cross was met by the towering Euan Murray to haul Sean Crighton’s side level. Queen’s Park seized control in the second period, thanks to two goals. Grant Savoury bundled home Louis Longridge’s strike, before Josh Fowler’s close range header. Linlithgow Rose: Binnie, Watson, Greene, Skinner, Thomson, Maguire, Berry, McMullan, Kennedy, Stenhouse, Rae Queens Park: Ferrie, Pignatiello, Murray, Shiels, Fieldson, Longridge, MacGregor, Connolly, Savoury, Drozd, Fowler
James Tavernier equals Ally McCoist’s European record
James Tavernier equalled Ally McCoist’s European goal scoring record in Rangers’ 1-1 draw against S.C Barga. The captain scored his 21st goal in Europe and is just behind Alfredo Morelos who is the Ibrox club’s top European goal scorer with 29 goals. Tavernier currently holds the record as Britain’s top scoring defender with 145 goals to his name after he slotted away his 72nd penalty for the Gers. The right-back won’t be celebrating too much over the achievement as the Light Blues missed the opportunity to defeat the ten men Portuguese outfit. Speaking after the game, the 34-year-old was disappointed with the result but believes there is still a great chance to qualify for the knockout stages: “It feels almost like a loss. “I’ve got no complaints with Nasser [Djiga]. “Everyone makes mistakes, but ultimately, we should have that game tied up before that even happens. “Being a Rangers player, you have to win every single game, and that’s what the fans require, no matter who we play. “That’s what we have to do from now until the end of the games in this competition. “It’s definitely not over. “We have to be more clinical up top. “I know that if we keep a clean sheet we win tonight, but the game tonight, we should’ve had that in our pocket with the 10 men that we were playing against.” After reaching another milestone at the Govan club, Tavernier said the achievement of equalling McCoist’s record meant nothing to him due to the result: “It obviously feels like nothing right now because you’re fresh from playing the game.”It obviously feels like nothing right now because you’re fresh from playing the game. “I think obviously when my time is done from football, I’ll look back at the achievements. “Ultimately, I wanted to win tonight and get the three points. “If I can help the team, I always will.” Danny Rohl’s men are back in action this Sunday against Falkirk at Ibrox as they look to make it five league wins in a row.
Rangers 1-1 Braga: Martinez Goal Stops Rangers Getting First Europa League Win
A blustery night at Ibrox came to an end with both sides having to settle for a draw as Rangers and Braga played out a 1-1 draw at Ibrox. Rangers came into this one bottom of the Europa League League Phase with four losses from four, the latest being 0-2 at home against Roma. Braga were sitting 5th before kickoff with three wins and one loss in the competition, the last game being a 3-4 defeat at home to Belgian team Genk. Both teams made three changes from their last games, Max Aarons, Connor Barron and Youssef Chermiti replaced Jayden Meghoma, Thelo Aasgaard and Oliver Antman from Rangers’ win over Livingston. Lukas Hornicek, Bright Arri-Mbi and Rodrigo Zalazar were out for Alaa Bellaarouch, Victor Carvalho and Pau Victor for Braga from their last game, a 4-2 Portuguese cup win against Nacional. As the gusts of wind started to pick up around Ibrox, it was Braga who created the first real chance as Zalazar cut the ball back for Ricardo Horta who had his shot saved by Jack Butland. Horta is played through again but his touch lets him down and Butland can save Rangers again. Former Celtic player Gustaf Lagerbielke had a free header at the back post from a Horta cross but he couldn’t connect properly and it went wide. Rangers created their first real chance of the game ten minutes before half time as Mohammed Diomande did well to find space and play it to Danilo but his shot was poor and straight at the keeper Hornicek. Danny Rohl’s team started to build a bit more pressure as Barron played a long switch to Djeidi Gassama who had a shot saved and the rebound was put over the bar by James Tavernier. Rangers continued their purple patch of play as Sikou Niakate made a last ditch challenge on Gassama and even when the ball fell to Chermiti the Gers striker couldn’t quite squeeze it in. After a VAR check for a potential handball right on the stroke of half time after a Tavernier corner was met by the hand of Jean-Baptiste Gorby and a penalty was awarded to Rangers, Tavernier scored as he sent Hornicek the wrong way. As the second half started Rangers kept up their pressure from the end of the first, Diomande played the ball wide for Gassama but neither Chermiti or Danilo could score. An overhit corner was recycled by Aarons and Chermiti couldn’t hit the target from three yards out, the clearance was out to Gassama who forced a good save from Hornicek. After another VAR check Braga are reduced to 10 men as Zalazar is sent off for an off the ball headbutt on Nicolas Raskin. Braga got the equaliser just over 20 minutes from time as a hopeful cross was caught in the wind, then misjudged by Nasser Djiga and it fell to Gabri Martinez who slotted into the corner. Djiga almost made amends as he came close from only a few yards out but his header went wide after Fernandez won the ball from a deep corner. Good work continued from Rangers with Gassama crossing but Tavernier’s header was weak and easy to save. Yet another VAR check followed this time for a penalty to Braga after a potential handball against substitute Bojan Miovski but it’s not given. Rangers pushed to take the lead again with less than 10 minutes to play, good work from Miovski and Diomande but the latter’s shot was poor on the turn. Braga had a great chance to win it in added time as the wind again picked up the ball and nearly blew a corner straight in, when it came out to Gorby his shot was powerful from just inside the area but Butland punched the ball away. The teams were then levelled to 10 men each after Diomande was sent off for a second bookable offence after a poor challenge. The game ended 1-1 with both teams down to 10 men as Rangers pick up their first point in the Europa League for the season. This result lifted Rangers up to 33rd in the League Phase as Braga dropped to 7th in a game that Rangers will feel they should have got all three points from. RangersButland, Tavernier, Djiga, Fernandez, Aarons (Meghoma 89’), Raskin, Diomande sent off 90+5’, Barron (Miovski 77’), Danilo (Aasgaard 72’), Gassama, Chermiti (Antman 89’) Tavernier 45+3’ pen BragaHornicek, Gomez, Lagerbielke, Niakite, Arri-Mbi, Gorby (Moscardo 90+3’), Moutinho (Grillitsch 66’), Zalazar sent off 61’, Horta, Martinez (Carvalho 82’), Navarro (El Ouazzani 46’) Martinez 69’
