GERS KICK THE DORR IN

Graham to rescue as 10-man Thistle let lead slip

RANGERS missed the chance to draw level with pace-setters Celtic and Aberdeen as they were held by 10-man Partick.

Alfredo Morelos gave the Light Blues the perfect start with his eighth goal in six games early in the first period.

But boss Pedro Caixinha’s hopes of recording three straight wins for the first time since his March appointment were wrecked when Blair Spittal and Chris Erskine fired back for the hosts.

Erskine’s red card for a lunge on Morelos handed the initiative back to Gers and Jags were denied their first win of the season as Graham Dorrans spectacularly fired in with 13 minutes left.

But there was no winner for Rangers, who could have topped Scotland’s top flight for the first time since December 2011 had they claimed a 4-0 win.

Caixinha is again set to face some difficult questions having watched his side drop seven points from their first six games of the campaign.

Skipper Lee Wallace also trudged off injured after 12 minutes following a tangle with Miles Storey and could miss the derby with Celtic next week.

Caixinha said: “When we scored with 15 minutes to go I had the idea we would push on for the win.

“However, during the first half when we had such clear chances to go and kill the game and didn’t take them, I had a feeling it was going to cost us.

“We need to avoid the things that give the momentum and confidence to the opponents.”