Linfield 1 - 4 Rangers Sat 16/07/11

RANGERS secured a first win under new boss Ally McCoist thanks to three second half goals to add to Juan Manuel Ortiz's opener.

The Spaniard put his new side in front in the first period with the first goal of McCoist's reign, but the Light Blues were pegged back by hosts Linfield.

Steven Naismith reopened the advantage midway through the second period before Nikica Jelavic and Kane Hemmings added gloss to the scoreline.

David Healy had been handed a start in his home country, alongside Jelavic in attack. That meant a move back to midfield for Steven Naismith.

And it was the Scotland man who helped contribute to a bright opening for the visitors with Steven Davis prompting in midfield and releasing Naismith down the right channel.

His cross found Jelavic but the Croatian's cushioned header didn't find a Light Blue shirt in the box.

Rangers were struggling to penetrate, but thought they had an opening in 13 minutes when Healy was dumped to the turf on the edge of the area.

The referee allowed play to continue and it Ortiz curled an effort toward goal that was just too high and wide to trouble the Linfield keeper.

However the Spaniard made the most of his next opportunity when it appeared seven minutes later.

He latched on to a flick from Naismith that was awkward to control. But he did well to cut back inside on to his right and coolly finish low under the keeper.

It was a welcome goal, the first of the new era under Ally McCoist but the lead lasted only nine minutes.

That would have frustrated the man on the touchline, but there was little his players could do about the goal.

It was Rangers who were on the attack when Davis's shot was closed down only to rebound the length of the pitch and in to the path of Carvill.

Clear of the defence, he made no mistake with the finish as he rifled beyond Allan McGregor.

The Scotland keeper was back in action soon after as well as he stretched to tip over following a decent spell of pressure from the home side.

That was the best of the chances created in the latter part of the first half as the visitors struggled to find a way beyond a resolute home defence.

The second period saw a host of changes for the home side with six switches just after the interval.

That, combined with a change in emphasis for the visitors saw things happen for the Light Blues.

Moving the ball more quickly they started to create chances, and after a few wasted opportunities Naismith restored the lead after 67 minutes.

Healy was the provider with a perfect slide rule pass to release the Scotland man, who powered in to the box and hammered the ball home to make it 2-1.

That settled things for Rangers and after Hemmings was introduced with twenty minutes remaining they made things count.

The young striker was involved in the build up to Jelavic's goal, combining in style with Naismith to allow him to roll across the face of the goal for the Croatian to knock home.

Hemmings then added gloss to the scoreline with a fine finish when he collected a Papac pass in the left channel.

Teams

RANGERS: McGregor; Whittaker, Broadfoot, Weir, Papac; Naismith, Davis, McCulloch, Ortiz; Healy, Jelavic,

Subs:  Alexander, McCabe, Fleck, Hutton, Kerkar, Bendiksen, Wylde, Hemmings,

Linfield: Blayney, Ervin, Watson, Armstrong, Hanley; Lowry, Garrett, Casement; Fordyce, Thompson, Carvill,

Subs: Addis, Douglas, Murphy, Lindsay, B.Burns, A.Burns, McCaul, McAllister, Kane,

Ref:

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