Live Commentary: Airdrieonians 0-1 Rangers - as it happened

Rangers travelled to Airdrieonians in Scottish League One on Thursday evening.

The Gers sat top of the division, and could have move 17 points clear with a win in this match, while Airdrieonians were looking to continue their recent improved form and climb off the foot of the table.

However, it was Rangers who emerged triumphant with a slender win.

Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.

7.28pmThat's it from me for this match. But join me in a moment for coverage of Hibernian vs. Hearts from the top tier.

7.27pmWell there were a few nervy moments at the end for them, but Rangers get the win they deserve.

90+3 minFULL TIME: Airdrieonians 0-1 Rangers

90 minWe will have three minutes of added time.

89 minAirdrie are having a real go at this late on. Surely they cannot snatch something?

88 minSAVE! What a stop from Bell to somehow deny Airdrie an equaliser. McLaren smashes the half-volley from the edge of the box through a crowd of bodies, before Bell throws himself to the left to save it. Mohsni then blocked it on the line. Should be 1-1.

85 minRANGERS CHANGE Clarke makes way, as Richard Foster comes on.

81 minYELLOW CARDS Jamie Bain is the latest to enter the notebook for a late challenge on Ian Black. The Rangers man is booked for his reaction after pushing Bain.

80 minYELLOW CARD Mohsni and Lister go into the book for a clash.

78 minSAVE! Rangers hit back with an attack of their own, and Rodgers brilliantly denies Clark with a brave tackle.

76 minCLOSE! Nearly an equaliser for Airdrie! Buchanan tries a spectacular bicycle kick, but it pings just wide. Spot of pressure from Airdrie here, and the crowd are right behind them.

73 minMacleod has a chance, but smashes a low effort wide. It wasn't the greatest strike in the world.

71 minAIRDRIEONIANS CHANGE: Nathan Blockley has been taken off, with Parker being sent on.

69 minThis slump is still going on. I'd love to tell you that there is stuff going on here, but I'd be telling porky pies.

66 minYELLOW CARD O'Byrne is booked for a heavy challenge on Daly.

64 minMind you, Airdrie haven't shown enough in this match to convince you that they will score.

62 minThis has been an incredibly poor second half so far. The longer it goes on though, the more Airdrie will believe that they can get something from this.

59 minBuchanan concedes the corner cheaply, which then breaks to Law. However, he cannot keep his shot down, and it flies over the bar.

58 minIt's pretty scrappy at the moment.

55 minNot too much happening at the moment. Rangers have had pretty much all of the ball, but they haven't peppered the Airdrie goal for a while.

50 minAirdrie clear the ball to the edge of the box, but only as far as Black. He gets the ball under control but then fires his shot over the bar.

48 minRangers have carried on from where they left off in this half. They have been dominant so far, and have had a succession of corners.

46 minCLOSE! First chance of the half falls to Rangers, as Daly glances a header over the bar.

46 minKICK OFF! Rangers, playing from left to right in this half, get the second period up and running.

6.38pmThe teams are back out, and we're ready for the second half.

6.23pmLewis Macleod has scored the only goal so far, but Rangers should be a lot further ahead. But for now, it's just 1-0.

6.22pmWell there goes the half-time whistle, and the only surprise is that Rangers aren't further ahead.

45+2 minHALF TIME: Airdrieonians 0-1 Rangers

45 minWe will have two minutes of added time.

43 minAirdrie have an attack as Lister beautifully brings a cross down on the turn, but he cannot get a shot away and Rangers can clear.

40 minClark and Buchanan endure a nasty collision, but I think the pair will be okay after a short break.

38 minRangers are dominant at the moment and I'd be a bit surprised if it was only 1-0 at the break. Airdrie have nearly everyone back, and are not doing too well on the counter.

35 minYELLOW CARD McAleer slides through Wallace on the left edge of the box to receive a booking.

31 minIt must surely be just a matter of time before Rangers double their lead.

30 minMISS! Mohsni should have scored there. The corner comes in from the right, and he is left unmarked at the near post, but cannot hit the target.

27 minCHANCE! Rangers are well on top at the moment and it should be 2-0, but Daly could only head over from Law's cross at the far post.

26 minCLOSE! Nearly a stunning second goal for Macleod, who smacks a dipping effort from range which lands on the roof of the net.

25 minCHANCE! Good opportunity for Airdrie to get an equaliser as Lister is found from a cross inside the box, but he heads straight at Bell.

23 minYELLOW CARD Brockley goes into the book for a late, high challenge on Black.

22 minCLOSE! What a goal this would have been from Lee Wallace, the left-back. He gets the ball on the edge of the box, tricks his way past one man before lobbing the ball over a second and then firing just wide of the far post.

18 minClassy finish from Macleod as Rangers go in front. Clarke nods the long ball down into the path of the Rangers striker. He gets a little bit of luck on the edge of the D as the ball comes back to him, but plants a wonderful low finish into the bottom left corner for his fifth of the season.

18 minGOAL! Airdrieonians 0-1 Rangers (Lewis Macleod)

16 minSAVE! Daly plays a nice ball over the top and into the box, which Clark is on to in a flash. He gets a shot away with his left foot, but Rodgers can make a fine stop with his legs.

13 minWe have a brief stoppage in play as Faure is allowed to receive treatment after landing heavily from an aerial challenge. He should be fine.

12 minRangers have another free kick and again waste it. Wallace the guilty man this time.

11 minBuchanan is a bit lucky there to escape a yellow card for a bad challenge on Clark.

11 minRangers are still on top at the moment, but haven't been able to properly test Rodgers in the Airdrieonians yet.

7 minRangers have a free kick which Black lofts to the far post where Daly is lurking. He gets to it, but cannot get his effort on target.

6 minRangers enjoying a bit more possession now, as Buchanan and Wallace exchanged a lovely one-two on the left flank before former whipped in a cross at the byline. It fell to Aird on the far side of the area, but his powerful shot was block, and fell into the arms of Rodgers.

4 minAirdrieonians have made a good start to this game. They seem fairly confident, and aren't afraid of going on the attack in front of their home fans.

2 minMcAleer has a cross/shot from the right of the box after running onto a loose ball, but his lofted effort drifts just over.

1 minKICK OFF! Airdrieonians, playing from left to right, get the first half underway.

5.33pmRespects have been paid, and we're shortly going to be underway.

5.32pmAirdrieonians are sporting their home kit of white shirts with a red V pattern, black shorts and red socks. Rangers are in their first kit of blue shirts with white shorts and their changed white socks.

5.30pmThe teams are out, the minute's silence will shortly commence.

5.29pmThe teams are in the tunnel ahead of kick off.

5.28pmThere will be a minute's silence prior to kick off as we remember those who passed in Ibrox disaster 43 years ago this afternoon.

5.26pmRANGERS BENCH: Simonsen, Cribari, Little, Crawford, Shiels, Foster, Peralta

5.26pmHere is what McCoist has in reserve.

5.25pmLewis Macleod returns to the starting XI, while Steven Smith misses out. Ricky Foster is fit enough to start on the bench, but David Templeton is out with a thigh strain.

5.23pmAlly McCoist makes just one change to the team that beat Dunfermline 4-0 last time out.

5.21pmRANGERS XI: Bell, Faure, McCulloch, Mohsni, Wallace, Aird, Black, Law, Macleod, Daly, Clark

5.18pmSo that's what the hosts have put forward, let's see what tonight's away team have to offer.

5.17pmAIRDRIEONIANS BENCH: Parker, P Boyle, Coult, Cadden, Grier, Coogans, Stewart

5.17pmLet's take a look at those substitutes.

5.17pmLister, Blockley, and McLaren all come into the team, when Cadden and Coult are among those to drop to the bench.

5.16pmGary Bollan makes three changes to the team that beat Arbroath at the weekend.

5.12pmAIRDRIEONIANS XI: Rogers, Gilmour, Bain, Watt, O'Byrne, Buchanan, McAleer, McCormack, Lister, Blockley, McLaren

5.11pmLet's get the team news.

5.09pmHaving gone months without a point, Airdrieonians are on a two-match unbeaten run as they look to turn their fortunes around in 2014. They drew with Stenhousemuir prior to Christmas, before recording a 2-1 win over Arbroath in their final match of 2013. Can they make it three games unbeaten in a row?

5.08pmUnbeaten Rangers have won 16 of their 17 games this season, and have only conceded eight goals while scoring an astonishing 64. It will take something special tonight for Airdrieonians to get anything from the match.

5.06pmIt's top against bottom in the Scottish third tier this evening, as Rangers look to move 17 points clear as they continue their climb back to the SPL. In their way of victory on this occasion are Airdrieonians who, despite being stuck at the foot of the division, have started to find some form.

5.04pmGood evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Scottish League One where Rangers are in action. They travel to bottom club Airdrieonians tonight.

Live Commentary: Airdrieonians 0-1 Rangers - as it happened

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Teams mentioned in this article :

Airdrieonians

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