Rangers lead Dunfermline at break

Dunfermline 0 Rangers 1

A close range effort from Craig Moore has given Rangers a 1-0 half time lead at Dunfermline in the final game of the season.

A quirk of the fixture list saw Dunfermline captain Ian Ferguson end his career in Scottish football against the team he enjoyed so much remarkable success with in the previous decade.

The 35-year-old, who was a mainstay of the Rangers nine-in-a-row era, is to wind down his career in Australia following today’s emotional farewell.

The home side had not beaten Rangers in any competition since 1988 and their last league success dated back to 1972.

Pars boss Jimmy Calderwood also handed a first start to midfielder Kevin McLeish.

Rangers also used the occasion to give fringe players a try out, with goalkeeper Allan McGregor handed his second start and teenager Graeme Smith - his potential replacement - on the bench.

Two of his Under-18 team-mates were lucky enough to begin from the first kick striker Tom Brighton and winger Chris Burke.

Under-18s captain Andy Dowie was named on the bench, with Christian Nerlinger, Billy Dodds, Tony Vidmar and Robert Malcolm also returning to the starting line-up.

Vidmar and Malcolm’s contracts expire in the summer so this could turn out to be their own farewells.

Vidmar has not been offered a new deal while Malcolm has one on the table and is considering his options.

Ferguson received a presentation from both clubs before kick-off and a standing ovation from both sets of fans.

With Barry Ferguson rested and Arthur Numan on the bench, Lorenzo Amoruso once again wore the captain’s armband from the start something he used to do every week until stripped of it by Dick Advocaat last season.

It was a low key start from both sides but Vidmar did head a Neil McCann free-kick narrowly wide in the seventh minute, although the Australian had been penalised for climbing on his opponent.

Malcolm was operating in a midfield role in Barry Ferguson’s absence.

Gary Mason won a corner for the home side in the 13th minute but Amoruso was there to head away.

Dodds was looking sharp and, having put Burke and McCann away down the wings, almost sent Brighton through down the middle and it needed a last-gasp intervention from Andrius Skerla to stop him.

Davie Nicholls set McLeish up just outside the box but his first time effort flew over the bar.

Maurice Ross was hurt when Colin Nish raised a boot too high and caught him in the face.

But Rangers took the lead in the 29th minute when Craig Moore got a touch to a McCann in-swinging corner into a crowded penalty area to divert the ball into the net.

Five minutes later, Burke cut inside to let fly but his effort was neither a cross nor a shot and landed harmlessly away from goal.

McGregor pulled off a quality save to deny Nish after the striker had been found in space in the box by Stewart Petrie.

Barry Nicholson launched the next home attack from the other flank, the right, and this time Nish headed narrowly wide.

At the other end, Skerla brought Dodds down right on the edge of the box and Marco Ruitenbeek dived to his right to palm away Amoruso’s goalbound free-kick.

The youngster McLeish was not scared to have a go and curled a long-range effort wide of the far post.

Ruitenbeek had to palm another in-swinging McCann corner away for another flag kick, which was quickly followed by a third, which came to nothing.