Rangers 0-0 Stirling Albion

  • Published

Rangers' shaky home form continued as they played out a goalless Third Division draw with Stirling at Ibrox.

Ally McCoist's side started positively when Lee Wallace's shot required a good save from Albion's Sam Filler.

However, the visitors almost took the lead through Jordan White's header and Scott Davidson's drive which went over.

Davidson was denied again in the second half and Gers striker Kane Hemmings nearly turned in Robbie Crawford's cross, but no goal arrived.

The draw sees Rangers go 21 points clear at the top of the Third Division.

Much of the pre-match talk was of the Ibrox side sealing the title with a win but with second-place Queen's Park's match at Annan falling victim to the weather that would not have been possible since the Spiders needed to drop points in the Borders for that to happen.

Stirling Albion remain seventh in the table but have done well against Rangers this season, taking five points from their four league meetings.

Most of the first-half action came near the start and the end of the opening 45 minutes.

Wallace's early shot tested visiting goalkeeper Filler, but no other clear Rangers chances followed.

Rather, with half-time approaching, it was Stirling who began to turn the screw as White's header was cleared off the goal-line by Fraser Aird.

Then Albion went close again, Davidson firing over with only goalkeeper Neil Alexander to beat.

Rangers played with more intent after the break, Aird moving in-field from the left and hitting a low drive which Filler had to turn round the post.

But on the hour-mark Stirling pushed again, and once more it was Davidson connecting with a cross which seemed goal-bound until it deflected off Lee McCulloch before being dealt with by Alexander.

Crawford scampered down the Rangers right to cut-back for Hemmings, but he turned the ball the wrong side of Filler's near-post.

Anestis Argyriou's late header was deflected wide and it proved Rangers' last chance to get the goal they wanted.

Rangers: Alexander, Hegarty, McCulloch, Emilson Cribari, Wallace, Hutton, Faure, McKay (Naismith 61), Crawford, Aird (Argyriou 77), Hemmings (Mitchell 90). Subs Not Used: Gallagher, Murdoch.

Booked: McCulloch.

Stirling Albion: Filler, McCunnie, Thom, Bishop, Forsyth, Flood (Ashe 77), McClune, Ferry, Johnston (Cunningham 90), White, Davidson (Graham Weir 64). Subs Not Used: Crawford, Day.

Booked: Davidson, Thom.

Att: 44,608

Ref: Craig Thomson

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