Paul Gascoigne might have left the stage, but there remains no shortage of
drama with Rangers as the team again played on their supporters' nerves at
Dunfermline.
Twice Ally McCoist put the visitors ahead, but twice defensive slackness
enabled Andy Smith to level and it needed a stunning 25-yard strike from Jonas
Thern after 68 minutes to edge victory.
It was a Rangers performance at times flowing, at others flawed, and in that
sense typified their season but, tellingly, it ended with a positive outcome.
Three points gained ensures Walter Smith's final season in charge may yet end
with a 10th successive title, even if it is perhaps destined not to be in the
emphatic style of old.
In the week where Scotland fired blanks against Denmark, McCoist's brace after
27 and 48 minutes was a further indication to Craig Brown of his World Cup
credentials.
Rangers made a defensive change with Sergio Porrini returning and Joachim
Bjorklund left out, but still the visitors looked a markedly better team going
forward than when forced back.
Dunfermline were without the suspended Andy Todd, but were boosted by Gerry
Britton's recovery from a long-term knee problem to restore his partnership with
Smith.
McCoist offered the first effort at goal, exchanging passes with Marco Negri
before striking a half-volley wide of target from the edge of the area.
Brian Laudrup, carrying on his form shown for Denmark versus Scotland in
midweek, found McCoist after 15 minutes, Ivo Den Bieman doing well to block the
snap shot.
Two minutes later, Laudrup was again the creator, a reverse pass putting Negri
clear but the Italian snatched at the effort, failing to connect properly with a
shot that drifted wide.
After 27 minutes, Rangers moved ahead after a fluid move, Negri releasing
Laudrup whose effort was well blocked by Ian Westwater, only for the rebound to
fall kindly to McCoist.
The Scotland international's return to the team has produced goals for
Rangers, but the side still have a tendency to produce them for the opposition.
Seven minutes after going ahead, they gifted Dunfermline an equaliser against
the run of play, and not for the first time this season it was down to an
individual lapse.
Alex Cleland's attempted back header was much too short allowing Smith to
steal in ahead of Andy Goram and walk the ball into the empty net behind him.
McCoist might have done better after 40 minutes after Stuart McCall's chipped
through ball, but his close range stab went the wrong side of the post.
It meant half-time parity, but there remained the feeling, assuming they
stopped conspiring against themselves, Rangers were comfortably the better
side.
Three minutes after the restart their lead was restored, Westwater doing well
to parry Negri's angled drive, but powerless to prevent that man McCoist netting
the rebound.
Jorg Albertz and McCoist at once sent in long range shots just wide as Rangers
looked to dominate, but the home team again proved their resilience.
After 61 minutes, Negri missed a clear opening when put through by Albertz,
the forward rounding keeper Westwater but dwelling on the ball long enough for
Den Bieman to recover his ground.
Rangers were made to pay for that hesitation in an instant, Smith stooping to
head Britton's low cross beyond the reach of Goram to level a second time.
It did not seem likely to be the last goal of the contest, and so it proved
after 68 minutes with Albertz tapping the ball to Thern who let fly with a
stunning 25-yard strike that went in off the post.
Still the chances came and went at both ends, Pars substitute Craig
Faulconbridge screwing the ball badly wide when found unmarked at the far post.
Rarely do Rangers require a decisive fourth in a game, but this was no
ordinary match, Laudrup's 80th-minute try forcing a smart tip-over from
Westwater - yet three was just enough.
Teams
Dunfermline: Westwater, Shields, McCulloch (Shaw 85), Den Bieman,
Ireland, Huxford, Britton (Duarte 70), Robertson, Smith, French,
Millar (Faulconbridge 70).
Booked: Den Bieman.
Goals: Smith 35, 63.
Rangers: Goram, Cleland, Albertz, Gough, Porrini, Petric, Thern,
McCoist, Negri, McCall, Laudrup (Gattuso 89).
Subs Not Used: Durrant, Moore.
Goals: McCoist 27, 48, Thern 68.
Att: 11,440
Ref: S Roy (Westhill).
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