Rangers 1-1 Elgin City

But for whatever reason the hosts didn’t build on their lead when they should have and even after Paul Harkins was dismissed prior to the break, City got a well-earned point.

Having been stuffy in defence, they made the most of their one real attack in the second period and forced an own goal from keeper Neil Alexander to share the spoils.

That means the 11-match winning sequence in the Third Division and Scottish Cup which stretched back for just over two months is over.

Nevertheless, Gers have retained their 17-point lead in the league after second-top Peterhead lost at home to Montrose.

This result is by no means a disaster for Rangers, who have an extremely healthy lead in the championship just beyond the halfway point.

But the game did serve as a timely reminder that dips in form result in dropped points and after scrappy wins over Queen’s Park and Annan, this stalemate was perhaps coming.

Now, with a full week between games for the first time in seven fixtures, there is a chance for Ally McCoist’s men to regroup, recharge and respond.

And the manager will be looking for a much better, more ruthless display against Berwick when they come to Govan seven days from now.

The Light Blues made three changes to the team which won at Annan in midweek, with Lee McCulloch, Macleod and Emilson Cribari all returning.

And after an impeccably-observed minute’s silence to mark Wednesday’s 42nd anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster in 1971, they started on the front foot.

Gers had plenty of possession in the opening moments, during which there was a rousing 60 seconds of applause for Sandy Jardine as he continues his fight with cancer.

It took a bit of time for the home team’s first real scoring chance to come but when it did they went in front.

Andy Little did well to dig out a cross from the right but McCulloch couldn’t quite do enough to set himself up and laid off to Macleod instead.

With a smart step beyond one man then great composure, he steadied himself to roll the ball past Joe Malin and make it 1-0.

Macleod’s energy and box-to-box nature was really missed in the recent games with Queen’s Park and Annan as he sat them out through illness.

His goal, a second against Elgin in a fortnight, demonstrated how crucial he has become to the make-up of McCoist’s team.

In fairness, City came right back at Rangers with a chance of their own, a long-range drive from Daniel Moore which Alexander had to react sharply to to keep out.

But the league leaders dominated and David Templeton could have added a second after leaving three defenders in his wake but he pulled his shot wide.

Ian Black also went close with one rasping drive which might have been blocked by a hand and a much weaker effort that somehow nearly sneaked in and had to be headed behind.

Jamie Duff was lucky to stay on the park after wiping out Templeton with a crude challenge akin to that Stirling Albion’s Gary Thom made on Ian Black at Forthbank back in October.

The fact he stayed on so nearly came back to haunt Gers as he won a free header in the box soon after but Alexander was well placed to deny him.

Some of the probing football the Light Blues played, particularly through Macleod and Templeton, was really exciting to watch before the break.

And going into the second half they knew there would be more space for them to express themselves after Harkins was sent off shortly before the midway point.

The ironic thing is that in a season when several red cards could have been shown for fouls on Ian Black, the one which was was probably only worthy of a booking.

There was one final chance to add to the lead before the interval and it should really have been taken by McCulloch.

But with the goal at his mercy, he was too casual with his finish and Malin was able to smother and keep the score at 1-0 at the break.

Little and Templeton both tried to give Rangers a better cushion after the restart but neither could get enough direction on their attempts.

And with those half-chances the highlights of a subdued start to the second period, it was no surprise to see McCoist swap Macleod with Barrie McKay on the hour mark.

The change was designed to inject life into a game which was becoming dangerously flat and the teenager, who turned 18 last week, almost made an instant impact.

McKay did well to ghost past Moore then Mark Nicolson and drove at Malin, with the keeper spilling the shot but doing enough to keep it out.

That did at least prompt a burst from the Light Blues, with Little also having a go but pulling past, Black drilling over then Little seeing a header after a fine move stopped on the line.

Rangers made another change as they tried to force the issue, with Dean Shiels coming on for Kyle Hutton.

The Northern Ireland international had as good a chance as anyone of getting the second when he connected with McKay’s cross on the volley but it arced a yard over.

Templeton then thought he had done enough to finally get what was proving to be an elusive second with a flashing attempt across goal but Malin touched it away.

The fact he didn’t was to make a difference as with just over three minutes of normal time to go, Elgin drew level.

Moore’s free kick seemed harmless enough and when Stewart Leslie helped it on, it still didn’t really seem a threat.

But it appeared to catch keeper Alexander out and he reacted late, fumbling it over the line to hand the visitors a point.

That prompted a brief chorus of boos at the final whistle followed by applause for the visitors and their efforts.

McCoist will hope the blip, which brings to an end a 100 per cent home record, is every bit as short and he’ll get a chance to find out soon enough.

RANGERS: Alexander; Hegarty, Perry (Faure 75), Cribari, Wallace; Black, Hutton (Shiels 65); Little, Macleod (McKay 59), Templeton; McCulloch.

SUBS: Currie, Sandaza.

SCORER: Macleod 9.

BOOKED: Templeton.

ELGIN CITY: Malin, Beveridge (MacLean 61), Cameron, Crighton, Duff, Nivem, Harkins, O’Donoghue (Wyness 80), Leslie, Nicolson, Moore.

SUBS: McMullan, Millar, Black.

SCORER: Alexander OG 87.

BOOKED: Duff, Nicolson.

SENT OFF: Harkins.

REFEREE: John Beaton.

ATTENDANCE: 46,406.

{module ADD THIS: Article Embed}