Livingston 1 Glasgow Rangers 1

Last updated : 14 April 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Rangers handed Celtic the chance to clinch the SPL title on Sunday after failing to take a win from their game in hand against Livingston.

Alex McLeish's side held on to a one-goal lead for most of the match but eventually let in a costly Livi equaliser 11 minutes from time.

Rangers edged out the first half thanks to a Michael Mols goal on the 25-minute mark but it had been Livingston who had made the better start to the game.

Burton O'Brien had the first chance for Livi sending a shot directly at Stefan Klos in the Rangers goal which the German punched clear.

On 11 minutes David McNamee's powerful effort left-foot shot from the edge of the area took more effort to save but again Klos cleared the ball.

Rangers picked up the pace of the game and began to dominate the possession and create more chances.

On 20 minutes Steven Thomson attempted to lob Roddy McKenzie in the Livi goal but the keeper stretched to gather the ball.

But four minutes later Thomson was causing more problems for the home defence when his header fell to Mols in the area and the Dutchman fired the ball high into the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

It looked to be heading for 2-0 shortly before the break when Thomson seemed to have been brought down by McKenzie and Rangers appealed vigorously for a penalty. But referee Young turned down their claims and Livingston were off the hook.

At the start of the second half Rangers picked up the tempo as they tried to put the match out of Livingston's reach.

Stephen Hughes produced an early chance for Rangers, but his shot was deflected just wide of goal by Oscar Rubio.

But the game swung back towards Livingston as the game went on and Marvin Andrews came within inches of scoring the equaliser when his header from a corner went just over the bar.

With 11 minutes of the match remaining Livi were rewarded for their superior second-half performance as substitute Colin McMenamin scored the equaliser.

David Fernandez fed the ball through to McMenamin on the edge of the area and with the Rangers defenders rooted to the spot the Livi striker ran straight through and beat Klos from six yards out.