RANGERS WERE HELD to a 1-1 draw by Hamilton Academical as they made their return to the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox.
After four seasons out of the top-flight, Mark Warburton’s men were stunned as Ali Crawford gave Hamilton - pre-season favourites for relegation - a first-half lead.
Martyn Waghorn scored an equaliser after the break, but Rangers will rue their failure to find a victory that would have put early pressure on rivals Celtic, who face a tricky trip to Hearts on Sunday.
The hosts had the ball in the net almost immediately, but Kenny Miller’s tap-in was disallowed after Waghorn had dribbled out of play before setting up the opportunity.
And it was the visitors who took a shock lead after half an hour, as a cross from the left eventually found its way to Crawford, who curled a magnificent finish past goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and into the top corner.
Waghorn struck a 20-yard free-kick against the post as Rangers ended a frustrating first-half behind.
They were level on 62 minutes, though, when a magnificent pass from substitute Harry Forrester released Waghorn and the striker converted with a with a first-time, left-footed finish.
Foderingham got down to make a vital save to prevent Hamilton re-taking the lead through former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati’s header, while the lively Forrester drove an effort wide at the other end.
But Rangers were unable to find a winner, with concern as Waghorn limped off with a hamstring injury in the closing stages which left them playing with 10 men having already used all of their substitutes.
Carty was brilliant, perfect off the tee, and the difference for me tonight. It was summed up in one passage for me. He hit a quality 50:22, and from the resulting line out hit a penalty which made it a two point that Treviso never got back from. Murray’s run, and Boyle and Prendergast at the fringes: quality too.
*Two score game. Pardon me.
@David Hickey: when he’s ON,,he is box office, average exiting player
@rugbyanbeer: typo a very exciting player
@David Hickey: a lot of Irish rugby fans see Carty play 6 times a year. Interpros. And are oblivious to a lot of his clutch stuff beyond that. Which is a shame. (Same for a few other Connacht and Ulster players). He was quality earlier, a clinic at 10.
@Cathal Carr: Curate’s egg. Have to take the penalty he kicked dead into account when assessing him.
@TL55: two bad touch finders in two weeks unfortunately
@mike ryan: if carty was a better points kicker he would be on the Irish team.
It’s the one weak point of his game but unfortunately is a big part of what is needed to be an international 10
@Reg Gordon:
Can none of the back three kick like in other National teams?
@David Hickey: what annoys me is Carty is always judged by his odd bad moment. Where as certain other 10′s are judged by their odd good moments and praised as the next best thing for years on end…as a Connacht fan I’m not saying he should be in the Irish squad…just saying that there are others ahead of him who have been bang average for years but can seem to do no wrong and given multiple opportunities to play themselves into form.
@Breandán Ó Cadhain: that’s very true. Plus with him rarely being injured he’s in the shop window much more than others. He looks a little low on confidence tho at the minute
@Breandán Ó Cadhain:As a Munster fan I agree with your take on Carthy Joey had a horror show for the first twenty last night ended up close to MOTM. A good sixty minutes doesn’t make up for a bad twenty
@Breandán Ó Cadhain:
There is also context as well… Connacht were having a bad time converting penalty line outs. Jack was trying to get the on the 5 meter line as he knew 8-9m would probably be too much for them. It is about risk, he knew what he was doing and why he was doing it… Other Irish sides have a much higher score rate and can convert from 8-9m…
Saying that, Carty’s pass for the first try is as fine a pass you will see this year. That what makes him different…
Good win but still lots of mistakes. But well done some great training pitch plans. Boyle was amazing and Hansen is so good. Onwards and upwards!
@Prof. William Joyce: yeah it was a good win but a better team would have crucified us in the first half. We were but the bounce of a ball from disarray a few times
5-0 on the table the most important thing but plenty didn’t go right either, would of been nice to increase the points difference a bit, don’t know how Boyle held that up over the line, deserved his motm