Forfar 2 Rangers 1 (AET): on-field despair adds to the boardroom drama

Rangers crashed out of the Scottish League Cup at Forfar today, adding further woe to fans already demoralised by another round of boardroom battling.

Ally McCoist's team were trailing to a Gavin Swankie goal but snatched a late equaliser through Fraser Aird to force the tie into extra time, when Swankie scored again to give Forfar a surprise victory.

The defeat came hours after Charles Green warned McCoist he must win a cup this season.

Former chief executive Green, who is to return to Ibrox as a consultant, said earlier today that simply winning the league will not be enough for the Light Blues.

But the Glasgow side failed even to overcome the first hurdle in the League Cup as their fellow League 1 rivals came out on top at Station Park.

Rangers headed into the match on the back of fresh off-field turmoil as a result of a bitter boardroom battle, in which a group of shareholders seek the removal of key board members, and the action on the park did not offer much comfort for fans either.

Andy Mitchell, Chris Hegarty and David Templeton were added to the Gers side following last week's Ramsdens Cup win over Albion Rovers, with new recruits Nicky Law and Jon Daly ineligible and Kyle McAusland dropping to the bench.

A transfer embargo means Rangers are unable to register any of their eight new signings until September 1 and the cup rules state they cannot feature as trialists in this competition.

Andy Little was tasked with leading the line for Rangers, with Lee McCulloch shoring up the defence in the absence of the injured Emilson Cribari.

Forfar were up for the match right from the outset and a low drive from Gavin Malin was comfortably gathered by Scott Gallacher.

The home side surged into the lead when a communication mix-up between Gallacher and McCulloch allowed Swankie to pounce and lob the goalkeeper to claim the opener after just eight minutes.

Forfar were threatening again when Swankie turned provider for Chris Templeman and he sent a bullet header fizzing just past the post.

Rangers had the chance to restore parity when Lewis Macleod was tripped on the edge of the box by Stuart Malcolm.

McCulloch stepped up for the free-kick but a hard, low effort failed to make it past the wall and the chance was lost.

Both sides made use of their substitutes at the break, with Martyn Fotheringham making way for Ross Campbell and Rangers swapping Mitchell for Aird.

Templeton was shifted up front with Little as the visitors chased the equaliser.

The former Hearts man immediately tried to set about the task but dragged his 15-yard shot just wide of target within seconds of the restart.

Templeton then met a Robbie Crawford cross but his header lacked power and failed to trouble goalkeeper Darren Hill.

Rangers should have been back on level terms through Crawford's volley but the Forfar goalkeeper pulled a save out of the top drawer to deny him.

Little then ballooned over from close range from the resultant corner when he should have had the net bulging.

With time running out for Rangers to salvage the tie, McCulloch was also thrown forward to boost the attacking threat.

The Light Blues eventually found the equaliser after 82 minutes when Little's header hit the crossbar and fell for Aird to nod home from close range to force extra-time.

But with 115 minutes on the clock, Swankie struck again when he met Iain Campbell's cross and sent a header past Gallacher to dump Rangers from the competition as furious jeers from the visiting fans rang out on the full-time whistle.

Taken from the Herald