Over 26,000 Rangers fans came to pay tribute Ian Durrant tonight as the former Scotland midfielder marked his testimonial in a draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Almost 13 years to the day since his debut first team outing at Ibrox as an 18-year-old Durrant was deservedly rewarded as the Scottish champions launched a spirited second half comeback.

Prior to that, they had struggled to cope with the threat posed by Sheffield Wednesday's Italian duo Paolo Di Canio and Benito Carbone, who both scored to give the Premiership side a 2-0 half-time lead.

Di Canio, back in Glasgow for the first time since his accrimonious departure from Celtic last July, was routinely booed at the home of his old foes from the moment his name was announced in the visitors starting line-up.

And with only seven minutes gone the Italian conspired to miss an open goal much to the crowd's delight, albeit after surviving two attempts by first Craig Moore, then goalkeeper Antti Niemi, to bring him down.

He had his revenge three minutes later though, his pass releasing his cohort Carbone who slotted the ball under the advancing Niemi.

Clearly revelling in his role as public enemy number one Di Canio indulged himself with an extravagent back heel before scoring the second himself after 24 minutes.

Carbone rounded Niemi initially, and when his shot was blocked by Moore he unselfishly teed up Di Canio for a simple side-footed finish.

Durrant tried his best to pump his colleagues into action, one delightful pass with the outside of his foot to release Staale Stensaal, a reminder of the talent that was cruelly cut down in his prime.

His long time team-mate Ally McCoist, with more immediate World Cup ambitions in mind, twice went close with typical opportunist efforts.

But it was Wednesday who always looked more likely to add to their lead, Mark Pembridge, Carbone and Guy Whittingham all going close before half-time.

Five minutes after the interval the departing cult hero launched the come back, his jinking run setting up half-time substitute Marco Negri inside the box.

The Italian's miss-directed shot fell kindly back to Durrant and he stretched out a left foot to steer the ball past replacement keeper Matt Clarke.

No sooner had the Ibrox crowd finished whistling Di Canio's substitution after 62 minutes than they were celebrating again, German midfielder Jorg Albertz marking his entrance with a trademark 25-yard left foot thunderbolt.

Alan McLaren, the Scotland defender whose career is threatened by persistant knee ligament problems, also made a welcome appearance as a substitute before the match petered out into a draw, Negri almost snatching a winner with eight minutes left.

Durrant, who did a lap of honour around Ibrox afterwards, later thanked the Rangers fans for their rapturous reception.

"I've always had a great rapport with them and the way they turned out tonight will live with me for the rest of my life," he said.

"It was an emotional life for me and some of the other players who are leaving and they really enjoyed it as well."

The 31-year-old also paid tribute to former Celtic star Paolo Di Canio, who received a hot reception on his return to Glasgow.

"He is a special player and he certainly brought some atmosphere to the game," he added.

"I am just glad he is down at Sheffield now the way he played tonight."

Rangers boss Walter Smith was also fulsome in his praise for Durrant.

He said: "It was a great night for Ian and I thought he played very well in the second half.

"It was a great reception for him and he has been a very popular player over the years."