Caley Thistle may have expected six points from their last two games but they had come away with only one. So it was more in hope than in expectation, that they made their way to Ibrox. It was evident that something had to be done and Brewster had indeed rung the changes, not only had he dropped himself but he had dropped, fans hero, Dennis Wyness to the bench. There was also the heart-warming presence of two long-term injury victims, Juanjo and Stewart McCaffrey, on the bench.
It was obvious from the start that Rangers were intent on putting there own recent run of dubious results behind them, by killing of Inverness. The Jags though were not about to roll over for their illustrious opponents, they weathered the storm but most pleasing of all they continued to play football. Each Rangers attack was broken up with the ball being passed out of defence, the visitors were rarely guilty of hoofing the ball up the field. How ironic it was then, that the opening goal came from classic route one football. A Mark Brown goal kick looked like it was going to be dealt with, easily, by Marvin Andrews but somehow the ball eluded him and Craig Dargo was on hand to volley the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards out. It was Craig’s first goal for the club and he could hardly have picked a better time, a better stadium or produced a better strike.
Confidence soured through the veins of the fans and the players and barley two minutes later, Inverness were presented with a chance to make it two nil but Alan Morgan’s twenty yard shot flew past the post.
Rangers though were just as determined and both Marvin Andrews and Fernando Ricksen came close to levelling the score before half time.
There were no changes to the Caley Thistle line up when the teams came back out but Rangers had replaced Chris Burke with Steven Thompson and it took only seven minutes for this substitution to pay of. Hutton sent a high cross into the box which Mark Brown fumbled and the ever alert Thompson was on hand to tap into the back of the net.
The game then swung back in Rangers favour and the Jags had to once again rely on quick breaks to make any impression. Rangers, though are also a counter attacking team and they showed there superior class when Caley’s occasional forays forward were quickly broken up and turned in their favour but the Thistle defence gave no quarter and never panicked. It was turning into a great game and the only down point was the Ref giving out cards like it was Christmas. No surprise then that a clumsy tackle by Graham Bayne led to his second booking of the game and an early bath for the Caley Thistle forward.
Down to ten men at Ibrox, against a Rangers team desperate for a victory is a frightening thought but Inverness held on, despite a few scares, and left with nothing more than the single point their endeavours surely deserved.
Although a special mention has to go to Morgan, playing tirelessly in the left midfield role and Brown for more than one exceptional save, man of the match has to be Craig Dargo for his work rate and that beautifully executed goal.