PARTICK..2 RANGERS..2
Blair is the booster Jag but Gers jury still out on Pedro
Stand after his recent run-in with Ibrox boss Caixinha.
Thistle’s decision to start with a three-man defence and spread five across the middle succeeded in clipping the wings of James Tavernier and Lee Wallace early on.
But the Light Blues skipper was destined to play no great role as he limped off only 13 minutes in to be replaced by Declan John for his debut following a move from Cardiff.
His impact was immediate as he played a key role in Rangers’ 19thminute opener, the first time either side looked threatening.
The Welsh left-back played a fine one-two with Josh Windass on the left then cut inside and let rip with a rightfoot effort that was heading towards the top corner before Danny Devine bravely stuck his face in the way.
Ryan Jack regained possession and worked the ball out to the right where Morelos had drifted to find a pocket of space before drilling a fine low shot across Ryan Scully into the far corner.
Thistle were hardly cowed but despite working hard to win their fair share of possession they were let down by their passing in the final third.
Rangers weren’t ripping the Jags to shreds either but the home side did scramble a defence 10 minutes before the break to charge down a Windass shot when it seemed Caixinha’s side wanted to walk the ball into the net.
It was boisterous and almost too full-blooded when Ryan Edwards caught Jack with studs to the base of his shin, leaving the midfielder writhing in agony and his teammates angry that Willie Collum took no action against the Aussie.
Devine involved himself in some shoving but it was tame for Maryhill Road on a Friday night and Collum was happy to let it fizzle out as Jack rejoined the fray after treatment.
Rangers almost added a second shortly before the break that would surely have killed the game but Tavernier’s whipped cross from the right was just a yard too far in front of Windass as he raced in at the back post. Rangers again missed a giltHusband
Fabio Cardoso was clumsy, climbing all over Miles Storey to reach a long ball into the heart of the defence when he would have been better placed standing his ground.
And Spittal made them pay, directing a fierce free-kick high into the net from 20 yards with the help of a nick off the defensive wall.
It was Rangers’ turn to look nervous and their sizeable support howled in anguish as Dorrans and Windass fired over when they would have been better picking a pass into the box.
Their yelps soon became cries of outrage as Thistle snatched the lead on the hour with Spittal the architect.
The 21-year-old pulled right to accept a pass from Edwards – played onside by Tavernier – and his low cross along the six-yard line beat the diving figure of Wes Foderingham before Erskine popped up at the back post to gleefully poke the ball into the net.
His joy was shortlived though as he saw red seven minutes later for an ugly late lunge on the halfway line, catching Morelos as he tried to turn.
The Jags striker’s failure to even muster an argument when the card was flashed told its own story.
Rangers were doing everything but throwing the kitchen sink with Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera thrown on.
However, there was a predictability to their play as the Jags dropped back into two well-drilled units of four and denied them space in behind.
Alan Archibald’s side weren’t afraid to try to hit on the counter either and Storey hoofed a shot over the top in 75 minutes after wrong-footing Bruno Alves on the edge of the box.
Thistle were made to regret that missed opportunity as Dorrans worked space on the left-hand side just a minute later, cutting inside on to his right foot and curling an equaliser high beyond Scully.
One step forward, two back
Pedro Caixinha has some thinking to do ahead of the Old Firm derby. His 4-4-2 may make the attacking side of Rangers’ game more balanced but defensively it was sorely lacking. Another underscore to Alan Archibald’s managerial creds. He sent Thistle out to play and they did – even when they went behind. The incessant sectarian soundtrack from the away stand left a lot to be desired. Again. In this day and age it has to stop.