RANGERS B Team collected a point in the City of Glasgow Cup after drawing 1-1 against Celtic B at the Penny Cars Stadium this afternoon.
Charlie McCann’s second-half goal just wasn’t enough for the Light Blues to secure a victory after Tommy McIntyre’s side found the equalising goal just 10 minutes later in Airdrie.
David McCallum made four changes to his squad from Tuesday evening’s cup game against Clyde at the Rangers Training Centre.
Lewis Budinauckas started in goals with a backline of Mateusz Żukowski, Robbie Fraser, Leon King and Kyle McClelland in front of him.
Adam Devine and Alex Lowry stepped into the midfield to join Cole McKinnon, and Cedric Itten was up front with Charlie McCann and Ross McCausland.
The young Gers started with the intent to dominate the play in this important cup tie, but it was Celtic who nearly found the opening goal after a few minutes.
Karamoko Dembele managed to break away from Adam Devine down the left side and advance towards Budinauckas in goals. The youngster cut a dangerous ball across the face of the goal to meet Ben Doak at the back post, he took a powerful shot, but Budinauckas pulled off two critical goal-line saves to keep the score level.
The Gers began to settle into the game and find their rhythm. Alex Lowry delivered a superb cross from within his own half to meet an on running Ross McCausland down the right side. McCausland pushed past a defender to break into the Celtic box and sent a powerful effort towards the goal, but Oluwayemi was able to get a hand to it to send it wide.
This seemed to jar the home side as they started to pressure the Rangers backline. Ben Summers linked up with Dembele to push towards the Gers goal, he crossed the ball into the box, but it scuffed off the crossbar to meet Robbie Fraser, who then cleared the danger.
McCausland came close again to breaking the deadlock and to put his side ahead. Charlie McCann collected the stray ball on the edge of the Celtic box, and after sending a powerful effort towards the goal it was deflected to the feet of McCausland. The youngster sent a dangerous strike again, but Oluwayemi just managed to get a touch to his strike.
The young Gers continued to battle it out across the pitch and looked hungry to see the back of the net and find the opening goal. They worked well to create threatening play into the Celtic final third with Devine and McCausland linking up to pressurise the hosts’ backline and push their way into the box.
Devine made an excellent run down the middle of the park and switched to McCausland on his right, the youngster danced his way around a couple of defenders before passing back to Devine in the box. The Light Blue took a strong shot, but his effort was blocked and then cleared.
As Rangers started the second half, they looked to pressurise McIntyre’s final third and drive into the box to find the opening goal. They didn’t have long to wait as their hard work paid off on the 50-minute mark, with McCann firing the ball into the back of the net to put the Gers ahead.
The youngster picked the ball up in the home side’s half and advanced forward past a few green shirts. He then found some space to execute his strike and sent a ferocious ball into the top left corner of the net.
McCallum’s side looked to add to their lead and created a lot of dangerous play in the Celtic box, but the hosts found their equaliser just 10 minutes later after MacKenzie Carse managed to close the deficit and put a low shot past Budinauckas.
Rangers take on Aberdeen this weekend in our Gallant Pioneers-themed home Scottish Premiership match and for the game we have a bumper 100 page souvenir programme that can be delivered straight to your door or purchased at this Saturday's game!
Rangers are delighted to unveil even more football stars who will come to Ibrox on March 26 to celebrate our 150th anniversary as part of the Weekend of Legends, presented by Unibet. World Legends team include names such as Luís Figo, Claude Makéléle, Iván Córdoba, Ricardo Carvalho, Predrag Mijatović, Gheorge Hagi and Roy Makaay. Alex McLeish will manage the Rangers Legends squad which features light blue heroes such as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Paul Gascoigne, Sasa Papac, Michael Mols, Kris Boyd, Nikica Jelavić, Ronald De Boer, Alan Hutton, Carlos Cuellar, Pedro Mendez, Lee McCulloch and Jorg Albertz. Additionally, former treble winning Captain and Rangers Hall of Fame inductee Barry Ferguson will be the Rangers Legends Captain.
To mark this incredible occasion, the Rangers Legends squad will wear a specially designed Rangers Legends kit that carries the name of every Rangers captain to lead the club. In addition, the shirt features a traditional collar design reminiscent of some our most famous shirts and our commemorative 150th anniversary crest is proudly embroidered on the chest. This limited-edition shirt is available to pre-order now from The Rangers Store online.