GOALS from Annan Athletic’s Ally Love and David Hopkirk put an end to Rangers’ unbeaten league record at Ibrox this season and clinched a famous win for their club.
After a poor first half in which few chances were created and Dean Shiels was stretchered off the game burst into life after the break.
Annan were two goals up nine minutes into the second period and although a fight back looked on when Andy Little scored from close range with more than half an hour remaining it was not to be with the visitors holding on until John McKendrick’s final whistle.
With David Templeton out because of an Achilles injury Shiels returned to the team for kick off, partnering captain Lee McCulloch in attack.
Kal Naismith was asked to start on the right wing with Little on the left as the manager made one change to the side which began against East Stirlingshire seven days ago.
On a bitterly cold afternoon the action in the first half did little to heat up the fans in the stadium.
Rangers enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening ten minutes but the first goalscoring opportunity was created by the visitors when the lively Hopkirk’s cross from the left was headed over by David Murray.
The Light Blues responded and a rasping drive from Anestis Argyriou produced a stunning save by Alex Mitchell who diverted the ball away from the postage stamp corner of his goal.
On 21 minutes Rangers were awarded a free-kick on the left wing and a pre-planned set piece saw Black drill a low delivery in to Wallace who peeled away from the pack but his left foot shot was saved.
Despite Little’s excellent form he was looking uncomfortable on the left but he showed a glimpse of his undoubted talent when he skinned his marker with a burst of acceleration but his shot flew across goal and out for a goal kick.
On 33 minutes, however, the Ulsterman found himself back through the middle when Shiels was stretchered off following a nasty collision with a defender and McKay jumped from the bench to take his place.
Prior to the break Annan could, and should, have had their noses in front. With four minutes of the first half remaining Hopkirk used his pace to get away from Argyriou on the left and his cut back landed at the feet of Murray in acres of space.
The forward had time to control the ball and pick his spot but his composure deserted him and his tame effort from 12 yards was easily gathered by a relieved Alexander.
The Ibrox faithful were restless and before the ref’s whistle a deflected shot from Murray was nervously palmed away by the Gers keeper.
The fans’ boos as the players walked up the tunnel said it all about a first half lacking in quality but things were only to get worse at the start of the second period.
After the unmarked Martin McNiff had headed the ball over the bar from a free-kick the Black and Golds opened the scoring on 47 minutes.
Daniel Orsi did well to work an opening on the right and his low cross into the danger area was met by Love who swept the ball into the net for his second goal of the season against Rangers.
Annan’s supporters couldn’t believe what they were seeing and on 54 minutes their team, remarkably, made it 2-0.
With Fran Sandaza now on for Naismith, Love sent Murray clear down the left and his back post delivery was nodded home by Hopkirk who took a smash to his head as he doubled his side’s advantage.
Ibrox was stunned but on 58 minutes there was a glimmer of hope. McKay’s deep corner was controlled by Sandaza and his toe-poked shot was bundled in by Little for his 25th goal of the campaign.
Questions were now being asked of the visitors for the first time in the game and when McCulloch headed over and then had a shot saved by Mitchell you wondered if Rangers could complete yet another comeback.
On 69 minutes Little had the chance to equalise but his header from McCulloch’s cross went inches over the bar.
The skipper then fired a terrific shot himself on 76 minutes but Mitchell was there again to make a terrific left-handed stop.
With the clock ticking down Rangers kept the pressure on but there was to be no dramatic ending to this contest and after the players in blue had walked up the tunnel the Annan players and staff walked over to their supporters to celebrate a famous victory.
RANGERS: Alexander, Argyriou, Cribari, Hegarty, Wallace, Naismith (Sandaza 49), Black, Hutton, Shiels (McKay 33), Little, McCulloch
SUBS NOT USED: Gallacher, Faure, Crawford
BOOKINGS: Black
ANNAN: Mitchell, Chisholm, McNiff, Swinglehurst (Daly 90), McGowan, Murray (Sloan 66), Chaplain, Jardine, Love, Hopkirk, Orsi (Black 80)
SUBS NOT USED: Shepherd, Hawke
BOOKINGS: Chisholm
REF: John McKendrick