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Forfar Athletic
Scottish League One
Jan 20, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Rangers logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Mohsni (75'), Templeton (89')

Live Commentary: Forfar Athletic 0-2 Rangers - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's coverage of the Scottish League One clash between Forfar Athletic and Rangers.
2

Rangers travelled to Forfar Athletic on Monday night in Scottish League One.

The Gers headed into the match unbeaten in the division, and had only dropped points on one occasion as they topped the table after 20 games, while Forfar sat mid-table, but were eager to push away from the relegation zone.

In a tight game, Rangers struck twice after the break to continue their great away record and pick up the win.

Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.


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Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Scottish League One where Rangers make the trip to Forfar Athletic.

Just how long can this run go on for? Rangers arrive at Station Park still unbeaten in the division after 20 games, and have only failed to win one game this season when they drew 1-1 with Stranraer at Ibrox on Boxing Day. Saying they're on a roll would be a huge understatement.

However, Rangers meet a home side who are brimming with confidence after an excellent start to the New Year. Forfar thrashed Brechin City 5-1 at the Glebe on the January 2, before following that up with a comprehensive 3-0 home success over Stenhousemuir.

So it should be a cracking game, and Forfar will be looking to make the most of their home support. Right, let's get the teams.

FORFAR XI: Douglas, Fusco, Campbell, Dods, Malcolm, Faeroe, Kader, Fotheringham, Templeman, Swankie, Hilson

Dick Campbell has Mark Baxter available after it was thought that he wouldn't recover in time for this match, but he is able to take a spot on the bench.

Other than the Baxter niggle, Campbell has a fully-fit squad at his disposal.

And here are the substitutes for the hosts.

FORFAR BENCH: Campbell, Andrews, Malin, Baxter, McCabe, Dale, Hill

So that's the home team, let's take a look at what Rangers have to offer.

RANGERS XI: Simonsen, Foster, McCulloch, Mohsni, Wallace, Faure, Aird, Law, Shiels, Macleod

Manager Ally McCoist has been forced into a couple of changes ahead of tonight's match.

Lewis Macleod returns to the starting lineup, while Steve Simonsen makes his debut in goal after Cammy Bell's partner went into labour late this afternoon, so he has left to be with her and Scott Gallacher steps up to take a place on the bench. Ian Black and Arnold Peralta are both banned which allows Macleod to come in as a replacement.

Dean Shiels starts again as McCoist opts for a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Shiels being placed in the middle with Nicky Law and Macleod and Fraser Aird flank them as Andy Little takes a place among the substitutes and Sebastien Faure operates in the holding role.

Richard Foster returns at right-back with captain Lee McCulloch, Bilel Mohsni and Lee Wallace completing the outfield lineup. David Templeton's comeback sees him start on the sidelines with Emilson Cribari, Robbie Crawford, Andy Murdoch and Charlie Telfer completing the list there.

So to clarify, here is the Rangers bench.

RANGERS BENCH: Gallacher, Templeton, Crawford, Cribari, Little, Murdoch, Telfer

So those are your teams, and we are now just a few minutes away from kick off.

The two teams have just left the dressing room, it's game time.

KICK OFF! Rangers, playing to the right, get us underway.

Forfar are sporting their home kit which consists of sky blue shirts with navy shorts and socks, and means that Rangers have been forced into their second strip of black shirts and shorts with red socks and trim.

CHANCE! Already a good start from Rangers who have had a couple of corners. The second one is cleared to the edge of the box where Macleod meets it with a hammer shot, but it's well wide and over the target.

OFF THE BAR! Rangers ride their luck here as Faeroe meets a Fotheringham cross at the back post with a looping header. It flies up into the air before coming back down and pinging off the crossbar. Rangers scramble it away. Frantic start.

Rangers are now in control after a little spell of pressure from Forfar. You can imagine that it will be like that all night; Rangers dominant but Forfar dangerous on the break.

SAVE! Superb try here from Law, who takes the ball on the chest before thumping a volley at goal. Douglas is forced to backpedal and palm the ball behind. The corner comes to nothing.

Rangers have a free kick in a good position to the right of the box, which is floated into the far post. It's a bit of a struggle for Douglas, but he manages to get a punch on it.

It's actually been a pretty even game so far. Forfar are far from intimidated, and why should they be. They're the only team to beat Rangers this season, after winning at Ibrox in extra time in the League Cup before Christmas. Nobody else can say that right now.

Rangers coming under some intense pressure from a succession of corners, but they're hanging on.

That's a waste from Nicky Law as Rangers get a free kick on the left. He tries to drive the cross to the back post, but all his teammates have made the run to the near side of the box. Poor communication, and I don't think that was from the training ground.

Now this is interesting. Rangers feel that should have been awarded a penalty here as Wallace makes his way into the box on the overlap, before going down under the challenge of Fusco. To me, it's looks as if Wallace has just run into a brick wall, but you've seen those given in the past.

Nonetheless, it's been a great encounter so far, and I'm not sure that there would have been too many people to have predicted the match to be this open.

CHANCE! First real effort on goal we've had in a while, as Shiels pulls away to the left of centre. He gets to the edge of the box and drives a low shot at goal, but the angle is against him and falls wide of the near post.

YELLOW CARD: First caution of the game goes to Faure, for a late challenge on the edge of the centre circle.

YELLOW CARD: Lee McCulloch is booked not after Faure, for leading with his elbow into the challenge. Rangers are getting a little bit frustrated.

Tempers are becoming a little frayed here, particularly among the visitors. Rangers are used to being ahead by now, but they've been given a really good contest in this first half so far.

Douglas has a bit of a made couple of seconds, as he flaps at a cross from the right to give Rangers a chance on the left of the box. However, he redeems himself to gather the ball.

Mohsni, not for the first time, tries to be too clever at the back and takes a chance. He is dispossessed by Swankie, who has a good run at goal ahead of him, but the defender makes a tactical trip to concede the foul and take the yellow.

Foster tries a long diagonal cross to the far post, where Daly is lurking for Rangers. He gets to the ball, but Campbell goes with him and gives away a corner.

CLOSE! Douglas to the rescue for Forfar, as the shot comes into a crowded penalty which results in a bit of a scramble, but the keeper can hold onto the ball.

We will have one minute of added time.

HALF TIME: Forfar Athletic 0-0 Rangers

No goals but a decent half in which defences have mainly been on top.

It's been pretty even and, while Rangers have been slightly on top, Forfar have had a real go at this.

The teams are back out and ready for the second half.

KICK OFF! Forfar, playing to the right, get the second half up and running.

Rangers have been on top since the start of the second half.

YELLOW CARD: Fusco almost decapitates Faure on the left touchline as he cuts of his run down the line, and rightly picks up a caution.

Clever feet from Macleod sees Fusco foul his marker, but the Rangers man has a little kick at the Forfar defender, leaving the referee to award the free kick to the hosts.

Fusco makes another strong challenge, that is fair but obstructs his man. The free kick is given, and he is really walking a tightrope now.

YELLOW CARDS: Another niggly foul sees Iain Campbell enter the referee's notebook for a shirt pull on Aird. Fotheringham then goes into the book for dissent.

FORFAR CHANGE: Mark Baxter comes on in place of Fusco. Smart move from the manager Campbell, with Fusco walking a fine line in terms of being sent off.

OFF THE BAR! So close for Rangers, as McCulloch whacks a free kick as hard as he can that fiercely rises. It takes a little touch off the wall on the way, and Douglas may even have got a touch to it. The ball moved so fast though it was hard to tell, but it crashes off the bar.

YELLOW CARD: Wallace is the latest man to enter the book for screaming at the referee. Rangers are well on top at the moment.

FORFAR CHANGE: Kader is replaced by Gavin Malin in Forfar's second alteration.

Rangers still on top, but they haven't been able to break down Forfar yet. They need to get more players forward. Forfar have barely threatened in this second half.

RANGERS CHANGE: Templeton, who has missed the last four games with a thigh injury, has come on in place of Shiels.

Rangers are really upping the tempo as they continue to dominate. The corner count is wildly in their favour, but that means nothing unless they can take one of these chances.

GOAL! Forfar Athletic 0-1 Rangers (Bilel Mohsni)

What was I just saying? It's lucky number 14 for Rangers in terms of the corner count, as the ball is floated into the front post, where Mohsni meets it with a powerful header that flies across the face of goal and into the top corner. Brilliant header, and Rangers are finally in front.

How will Forfar react? They've been hanging on for most of this second half, but they need to take the game to Rangers now if they are to get anything from this.

CLOSE! Nearly an equaliser for Forfar that, just for a second, looked to have beaten Simonsen. Malin hits a low drive from range, which takes a deflection and flies just wide of the near post. Corner.

SAVE! What an amazing save from Simonsen to keep Rangers ahead. The corner comes off the head of Mohsni, and then takes a touch off an unsuspecting Wallace. The ball looks to be heading into the back of the net, but Simonsen sticks out a palm from out of nowhere and can claw the ball over the bar. Fabulous stop.

YELLOW CARD: Baxter is booked for blocking off Templeton. Forfar are going to make another change shortly.

YELLOW CARD: Baxter is booked for blocking off Templeton. Forfar are going to make another change shortly.

FORFAR CHANGE: Ross Campbell, another one of the manager's sons, replacing Fotheringham.

GOAL! Forfar Athletic 0-2 Rangers (David Templeton)

Game over. Just as Forfar threaten at one end, Rangers race to the other and find a second goal with a wonderful finish from Templeton. The Gers' 100% away record continues.

There will be three minutes of added time.

FULL TIME: Forfar Athletic 0-2 Rangers

It was hard work, but Rangers get the win after breaking down a resilient Forfar side to create a 20-point lead at the top of the Scottish League One.

That's all from me, I hope you enjoyed the match. Until next time, goodnight.

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