Match Report: Rangers 2-3 Everton

The match itself was quite competitive with both sides keen to have a go right from the off. Everton looked the brighter in the early exchanges and were unlucky not to take the lead when in just three minutes Alan Stubbs blasted a free-kick past the post.Both teams were slugging it out in the mid-field and Thomas Gravesen in particular was looking impressive for Everton winning balls and spraying passes about the park,indeed it was Gravesen who won a mid-field battle with Muscat and played a nice ball through to Rooney on the wing who played the ball into the Rangers six yard box and Tomasz Radzinski was just a few inches from getting on the end of it. Everton didn't have it there own way for long,Lovenkrands beat the offside trap but shot wide as Simonsen came to meet him,the Rangers fans claimed that the player was fouled but ref Stuart Dougal was having none of it. Soon after Neil McCann was showing glimpse's of his old self with some great wing play but some poor crossing ! But on 20 minutes the home side made the break-through,a through ball from Malcolm to McCann who great cross was superbly headed passed the helpless Simonsen by Steven Thompson to put the Treble Winners 1-0 up ! How would Everton cope now being a goal behind ? Well for a little time it looked like Rangers would add to their one goal advantage as Thompson again went close.But Everton under David Moyes had fighting spirit,and this was shown when Gravesen and Rooney exchanged words after a mix up as Everton moved forward!

The game was starting to get a little niggly now and one foul followed after another.The impressive Thompson was proving to be a handful for Weir and Stubbs and he must he impressed not only his Manager Alex McLeish but the watching Scotland Coach Berti Vogts .The term friendly could be used loosely if you had seen some of the tackles flying in and Thomas Gravesen was inches wide with a shot after a Pistone free kick had been charged down. On the half hour the Rangers fans get a glimpse of one time hero Duncan Ferguson as he goes to warm up...at the Rangers end !

But the Rangers fans cheers soon turned to howls as Neil McCann shot tamely at Simonsen when in the clear.The game gets a bit niggly again and Malcolm goes down on the far side on the touchline holding his back ! Soon after Hibbert is clattered by Muscat whilst playing the ball forward ! You got the feeling someone was going to get hurt and unfortunately as Everton broke up the park in a move that ended with a Steve Watson shot being saved by Klos,our young striker Wayne Rooney lay on the Ibrox turf,in agony ! You just knew he wasn't going to get up ! What I could see of the incident,I thought Bob Malcolm seemed to tug young Wayne's shirt at the neck,but it may well have been just unfortunate as Wayne put his foot on the ball,his leg went the other way.It was a sickening blow for Wayne and for Everton ! Kevin Campbell came on to replace him. As the game moved towards half-time there were more fouls from either side,and Rangers had a Malcolm free kick was saved by Simonsen as Lovenkrands closed in.Just before half time Rangers had pressed for a second but nearly ended up being caught by a counter attack from Everton.As Gravesen broke upfield and played a pass to Linderoth who was in turn fouled.From the resulting free-kick the Rangers keeper showed his class keeping out a great header from Alan Stubbs and this making sure his team would go in with a one goal advantage. Half Time 1-0 In the second half Everton sent on Alexandersson for Watson and Rangers sent on Averladze for Capucho Both teams started brightly and the visitors had chances to draw level after two chances,one from Gravesen who shot over after a good run and one from Radzinski who shot wide after a great through ball from Gravesen.

The pressure from Everton had to come to something but it wasn't until the 63rd minute that they drew level. Tomasz Radzinski had broke into the box and was fouled by one time Everton favourite,Michael Ball. Despite all the Rangers players efforts to put the Everton spot-kick taker off,David Unsworth kept his cool and sent Klos the wrong way and now the Blues were level. 1-1 The Rangers defense looked hesitant now and were lucky to escape unpunished when Radzinski shot wide after panic in the Rangers ranks. The game had a new lease of life thrown into it now and both teams looked to go for another goal. Rangers had decided to bring on Ronald De Boer for Steven Thompson but not before the big man had  rattled the post of Steve Simonsen.He could go off knowing that he had put in a good shift !

The Rangers and Everton fans had to wait till the 78th minute to see the big man return to the action. Big Dunc was back and also Li Tie came on also and it was not long before the pair were celebrating ! Dunc played a ball to Alexandersson who's clever chip was met on the volley by Li Tie who scored his first goal for the club and one he will remember for a long time. But Everton's joy was short lived as clever footwork by Michael Mols outfoxed the Everton defence and the Dutch Striker made it 2-2 . The game seemed to be heading for a draw when Maurice Ross needlessly fouled Pistone at the edge of the box.It seemed right that Alan Stubbs a former Celtic man should step up and with the aid of a deflection off Ball of all people,score the winner from the free kick ! Full Time Rangers 2 Everton 3 At full time Stubbsy said," After being at places like Crew and Rochdale,to come here and get a result was good.It was a good test all over the park for our boys."

When I asked Michael Ball how he felt playing against his boyhood heros,he just laughed and said , "Yes,it was weird !" Now the blues move on to Dundee to play Ian McCall's improving Dundee United team lets hope that this too is a good test for the team with no more injuries and that I get there and back if poss !