Boyd saves Rangers from Cup shock

EVEN Kris Boyd could not see Rangers safely through to the last four of the Scottish Cup as Partick Thistle earned a well-deserved draw at Ibrox last night.

The striker came to the rescue to level Damon Gray’s opener but could not find the goal that would snuff out the threat of the battling Irn-Bru First Division outfit.

It was the second cup shock in 24 hours after Celtic were dumped out by Aberdeen and both teams now have to do it all again in the replay at Firhill to earn the right to face St Johnstone in the semi-finals.

The best of the early chances fell to Rangers but poor finishing seemed to be a problem for the front players. Nacho Novo was first to have a go when he collected a loose ball 25 yards out only to see the effort whistle past the post.

Boyd then threw himself in front of a Naismith cross but the man who saved Rangers on Sunday was uncharacteristically off-target as his header sailed inches over the crossbar.

At the other end, Simon Donnelly was wasteful with a free-kick just outside the box, before Scott Chaplain drilled a long-range shot wide of Allan McGregor’s left-hand post.

Ibrox was stunned into silence when Partick surged into the lead after 67 minutes. Gary Harkins slipped a great ball through to Gray who gleefully despatched past McGregor from inside the box.

The goal sparked wild celebrations among the vocal travelling support but Rangers were back on level terms just two minutes later as Boyd once again proved to be in the right place at the right time.

Thistle goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey was forced to parry from one of his own defenders, sparking a goalmouth scramble with Boyd lurking to bundle home at the far post.

Partick then defied all the odds to hold on and earn the right to face the SPL leaders again on home territory in the replay.

RANGERS: McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Dailly, Whittaker, Naismith (McCulloch 72), Davis, Thomson, Adam (Burke 58), Novo, Boyd.

PARTICK: Tuffey, Storey, Robertson, Archibald, Twaddle, Chaplain (McStay 90), Rowson, Roberts, Harkins, Grey (Murray 84), Donnelly (McKinlay 70).

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).