Rangers substitute Kyle Lafferty’s late strike yesterday helped his side to a narrow 2-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle that extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to seven points.
Despite only being a point off the bottom Inverness belied their lowly status as they had the best of the first period and hemmed Rangers in their own half.
Rangers made changes at the break and they had an immediate impact as American defender Carlos Bocanegra headed them into a 55th-minute lead.
Inverness equalised in controversial circumstances in the 67th minute when substitute Andrew Shinnie fired past Allan McGregor with Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic lying injured upfield.
Terry Butcher’s side had a Richie Foran effort ruled out for offside then hit the post and had a shot cleared off the line before Lafferty struck seven minutes from time to get Rangers out of jail.
Rivals Celtic will have a chance to close the gap today when they take on Dundee United.
“I don’t think I can remember being involved in a game with such contrasting halves,” said Rangers manager Ally McCoist.
“I was far happier with our attitude and performance in the second half. The game became open and really stretched and thankfully we just got the break at the right time.”
His Inverness counterpart Terry Butcher was frustrated at his side’s finishing.
“I was so angry after the game because they put so much into it and to come away with nothing is hard to take. We have missed a whole host of chances again,” Butcher said.
Premier League results
Aberdeen 1 - Hibernian 0
Hearts 4 - Dunfermline 0
Kilmarnock 1 - Dundee United 1
Motherwell 1 - St Mirren 1
Rangers 2 - Inverness CT 1
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Rangers | 19 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 9 | 48 |
| Celtic | 18 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 36 | 14 | 41 |
| Motherwell | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 19 | 34 |
| St Johnstone | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 18 | 26 |
| Hearts | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 14 | 25 |
| Kilmarnock | 18 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 24 | 26 | 23 |
| Dundee Utd | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 30 | 22 |
| St Mirren | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 24 | 22 |
| Aberdeen | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 26 | 20 |
| Inverness | 19 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 38 | 15 |
| Hibernian | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 29 | 14 |
| Dunfermline | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 40 | 14 |
Premier League today
St Johnstone vs Celtic - 16.00
First Division
Hamilton p - Morton p
Livingston p - Ayr p
Partick Thistle 0 - Raith Rovers 1
Queen of South 1 - Falkirk 5
Ross County 1 - Dundee 1
Second Division
Airdrie United 2 - Brechin 3
Arbroath p - Forfar p
Dumbarton p - Stenhousemuir p
East Fife p - Albion p
Stirling p - Cowdenbeath p
Third Division
Berwick 2 - Alloa 2
East Stirling 1 - Clyde 1
Elgin p - Annan Athletic p
Montrose p - Queen’s Park p
Stranraer 2 - Peterhead 1