Amanda Littlereports fromFir Park

Last updated 11:29, Friday, 04 April 2008

GRETNA have a mountain of Everest proportions to climb if they’re to avoid relegation from the SPL after being cast 11 points adrift at the foot of the table.WHATEVER Gretna boss Davie Irons said in the dressing room at half-time, it worked because his side hit back before Rangers even had time to digest their cuppas.

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In you go: Barry Ferguson celebrates putting Rangers ahead last night

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Gretna 1 Rangers 2

As for Rangers, they’re already perched proudly at the summit, with Old Firm rivals Celtic trailing in their wake.

The gap on the pitch at Fir Park last night, however, was nothing like that apparent, which was why not even Rangers boss Walter Smith is daring to write off Gretna’s survival hopes or talk up his own team’s title chances.

Gretna once again proved they’re not going to surrender their place in the top-flight without a fight as they got their act together after a poor Scottish Cup performance against Morton four days earlier and gave below-par Rangers a run for their money.

The road towards SPL survival will have to be paved with gritty, determined performances like this - a view shared by former Scotland boss Smith.

“Gretna have proved they can make it awkward for a lot of teams so, while they can do that, there is always hope for them,” he said.

“They don’t look to be badly affected, there’s a good determination about their team despite the fact they are bottom.

“There’s a long way to go to the championship and there’s a lot of football to be played yet.”

Kenny Deuchar enhanced his chances of a summer move after revealing he wants to leave Gretna at the end of the season by hitting their equaliser 40 seconds after the restart after Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson’s stunning 16-yard volley had given his side a half-time lead.

Just as it looked as if Gretna had secured an unexpected and priceless point against the Glasgow giants, Daniel Cousin drove a dagger into their hearts by hitting the winner.

Until then the omens had looked good for plucky Gretna after a whole string of refereeing decisions went their way, with the Rangers dug-out enraged after having three penalty appeals waved away by referee Iain Brines.

There was an even greater escape when Gretna keeper Tony Caig appeared to handle outside the are, but escaped punishment.

Rangers, who were playing their first game of the year after a string of postponements, quickly shook off their ring rust and had Gretna on the ropes in the opening minutes.

Rangers’ lively start added up to a tough league baptism for new arrivals Danny Hall and Kyle Naughton, playing in a back four with an average age of just 21, but they put up brave resistance to deny the visitors an early goal.

But Gretna weren’t only content to sit back and frustrate their opponents as they carried the fight to Rangers’ defenders with some useful breaks.

They should have taken the lead nine minutes before the break when Carlos Cuellar slipped, allowing Deuchar a run into the box and only the foot of goalkeeper Allan McGregor kept the scoreline level. Midfielder Gavin Skelton couldn’t get a proper touch on the rebound.

Caig pulled off a terrific save to deny Charlie Adam two minutes before half-time as he leapt spectacularly to get a hand to a shot which was bound for the top corner of his net.

It was going to take something special to beat the former Carlisle United keeper, who turned in his best performance since taking over the No1 jersey at Gretna, and it arrived on the stroke of half-time - just as it looked as if the Borderers had made it to the sanctity of the dressing room without conceding a goal.

Cousin's long ball was flicked on by Naismith for Ferguson and the Scotland midfielder left Caig with no chance when he unleashed a sizzling volley from just inside the box.

Skelton won the ball in midfield and found Allan Jenkins, who delivered a superb cross onto the head of Deuchar, who nodded past McGregor from six yards.

Gretna haven’t had much good fortune in a bruising introduction to life in the top-flight, but a black cat must have crossed the path of the team coach enroute to the game because they enjoyed a huge slice of luck when a string of second-half decisions went their way.

First Cousin went sprawling in the area under a challenge by Hall, before Rangers were denied a stonewall penalty when Naismith was sent crashing to the deck by Aurelien Collin.

The Rangers bench vented its fury at ref Brines. Moments later, Smith and his No2 Ally McCoist were even more incensed as Caig race out to seize Ferguson’s free kick and appeared to handle outside the area, only for the stand-side assistant Steve Pullar to signal for play to continue.

The comedy of errors continued when Naismith's jersey appeared to be tugged by Gretna right-back Craig Barr and Brines pointed to the spot before realising his assistant had flagged for offside.

Desperate moments at times for Gretna, but this was far from a backs-to-the-wall display.

Skelton, whose energy and non-stop running perfectly epitomised Gretna’s determination and spirit, set up Jenkins again and the midfielder raced forward only to see his effort cannon off McGregor’s legs.

It was to prove a costly miss as on 74 minutes Rangers broke Gretna’s brave resistance and their hearts when they hit their winner.

Sub Jean-Claude Darcheville, who replaced Naismith, released Cousin into the box, and he rounded Caig before slotting into the bottom corner of the net.

Skelton had a great chance to snatch a deserved point for Gretna five minutes from time.

Deuchar cut the ball back to the midfielder, but his shot took a deflection off Sasa Papac and spun over the bar. For once last night, Lady Luck deserted Gretna when they needed her most.

MATCH STATS

STAR MAN: Tony Caig - Commanding display by Gretna keeper, who made some crucial saves and also helped to ease the nerves of a rookie defence with an average age of just 21. Blotted his copybook slightly by handling outside the area and was lucky to avoid punishment.

KEY MOMENT: There was a whole load of controversial refereeing decisions by Iain Brines which left the Rangers’ dug-out in uproar, but the visitors’ most convincing claim for a penalty came on 56 minutes when Stevie Naismith went down under close attentions of Aurelien Collin but Brines ignored their appeals.

BOSS TALK

Davie Irons, Gretna: “I thought we deserved something. They showed tonight there’s an abundance of spirit. We conceded a sloppy goal and it was disappointing not to get to half-time at 0-0, but credit to the lads as they bounced back. There were a few decisions perhaps in our favour but that’s life. To push Rangers the way we did is testament to the fact that we are going in the right direction.”

Walter Smith, Rangers: “Gretna made it very awkward for us but we know we can play better than that. We didn't reach the level of our last few games although I felt we deserved our lead at half time.Gretna's equaliser gave them a big lift and we had to work very hard and were a bit scrappy in some aspects. However sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition on the night."