Dunfermline and Rangers were forced to share the points in a dramatic Bank of Scotland Premier League clash which saw both teams end the game with 10 men.

It was the Pars who took the lead through Andy Tod and that was cancelled out by Peter Lovenkrands before Mark Burchill restored their lead.

But Lee Makel then earned himself a red card for handball, allowing Lovenkrands to convert from the penalty spot, before Chris Burke fired Rangers into the lead.

Just when it looked like they would hold on for all three points, Sotirios Kyrgiakos was handed a second yellow for hauling at Tod inside the box and it was Darren Young who stepped up to grab a point from the spot.

A huge weight was lifted from Alex McLeish's shoulders when he was told his job was safe earlier this month and the news appeared to have a knock-on effect on the pitch too.

Rangers clocked up consecutive wins against Kilmarnock and Hearts and knew that another victory over Dunfermline would signal they had finally left behind one of the most difficult periods in the club's history.

Instead, on Boxing Day - a day of the year traditionally dedicated to clearing out the rubbish - McLeish was left with plenty to ponder ahead of the January sales.

The terms of Allan McGregor's loan deal meant he was not able to face his own club Rangers and his place between the sticks was taken by Bryn Halliwell instead.

It looked as though there would be a busy afternoon ahead for the Dunfermline goalkeeper when Lovenkrands raced into the box and rifled just over from close-range, before he was forced into action to smother another effort from the Dane.

Burke then sent a long, low effort flashing past the post.

But it was Dunfermline who stunned their visitors by taking the lead with just 16 minutes on the clock. A Makel free-kick found Noel Hunt out on the left and he delivered an inch-perfect cross to the head of Tod to nod home from six yards.

Rangers were back on level terms again through a free-kick of their own after 22 minutes when Bob Malcolm played the ball short to Lovenkrands and he sent a superb curling ball past the Pars wall from just outside the area.

But Dunfermline restored their lead within 60 seconds when Burchill raced into the box and slotted past Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus into the bottom corner of the net.

Rangers were still searching for the equaliser and it almost came when Thomas Buffel released Barry Ferguson down the right wing and his shot fell across the face of goal and inches wide of the target.

Only the superb reflexes of Halliwell prevented Rangers from hauling themselves back into the game soon after the restart.

Burke flighted a cross to Steven Thompson a few yards from goal and his thunderous header looked goalbound until Halliwell pulled a save straight out of the top drawer to parry to safety.

The Dunfermline goalkeeper was called into action again when Ferguson drilled a low, hard shot at goal.

The game then took a dramatic turn when Makel was dismissed for handling a Marvin Andrews header on the line, following discussions between referee Craig Thomson and his assistant, before Lovenkrands converted from the penalty spot after 65 minutes.

Rangers then took the lead when Burke rifled into the roof of the net two minutes later.

Rangers could have all but put the game beyond Dunfermline with 10 minutes to go when Thompson's header fell at the feet of Buffel but he was caught off balance and stabbed over from close-range.

The Ibrox side were then handed a free-kick on the edge of the box and Malcolm cut back to Steven Smith but his shot was deflected wide.

There was time for one final twist when Kyrgiakos was shown a second yellow card for pulling at the jersey of Tod before Young grabbed a share of the spoils from the spot for Dunfermline in injury time.

Teams:

Dunfermline Halliwell, Shields, Scott Wilson, Tod, Thomson (Campbell 68), Ross, Mason, Makel, Darren Young, Hunt (Derek Young 81), Burchill (Tarachulski 82).

Subs Not Used: Paterson, McCunnie, Labonte, Craig Wilson.

Sent Off: Makel (63).

Booked: Scott Wilson, Shields, Tod.

Goals: Tod 16, Burchill 23, Darren Young 90 pen.

Rangers Waterreus, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Smith, Malcolm, Ferguson, Murray, Burke, Lovenkrands (Novo 73), Buffel, Thompson.

Subs Not Used: Klos, Pierre-Fanfan, Jeffers, McCormack, Campbell, Lowing.

Sent Off: Kyrgiakos (90).

Booked: Lovenkrands, Kyrgiakos.

Goals: Lovenkrands 22, 65 pen, Burke 67.

Att: 9,481

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).