SC Wiedenbruck 0 - 3 Rangers Tues 28/07/09

AT times this wasn't the prettiest of performances for the travelling Rangers fans to watch.

But in the end three late second-half goals from substitutes Aaron Niguez (2) and Andrius Velicka gave Walter Smith's men their second win of their successful pre-season tour to Germany.

The gaffer said pre-match that he was going to use this friendly to give every one of his players a run-out.

And he almost achieved this feat with young keeper Grant Adam the only member of the Gers squad to stay on the bench.

With only one change made to the starting eleven that beat FC Nuremberg 2-0 on Sunday, many would have thought that Rangers would have come flying out of the traps in the compact Jahnstadion tonight.

But in truth Wiedenbruck worked exceptionally hard to deny their Scottish opponents space and time on the ball and actually created the better chances in an opening 45 minute display that gave their vociferous fans hope of causing an upset.

Had their finishing been better they could have noses in front at the interval with Rangers only creating a couple of clear cut opportunities.

On eight minutes Sasa Papac did well on the left and his dangerous cross was met by Kris Boyd who could only watch as his header dipped before bouncing off the cross bar.

After an uninspiring opening half hour Smith decided to make the first of many alterations to his team with Boyd and Miller being taken off and replaced by Kyle Lafferty and John Fleck.

Not long after this switch, Steven Naismith was found in the box by a raking, 40 yard Charlie Adam pass but his first-time volley ended up high and wide.

For the start of the second period no fewer than seven changes were made to the Rangers' team.

Andrew Shinnie, Steven Smith, Andrew Little, Lee McCulloch, DaMarcus Beasley, Aaron Niguez and Allan McGregor went on for Mendes, Papac, Whittaker, Weir, Naismith, Davis and Alexander respectively.

And the Fresh legs certainly made a difference with Novo, Aaron and Beasley, in particular, using their pace to good effect to trouble Wiedenbruck's towering backline.

Reserves stars Andy Little and Andrew Shinnie also put in composed displays despite being asked to play in defensive roles, the latter featuring at right-back for what must surely be the first-time.

After 25 minutes in which Rangers gradually took control of proceedings the breakthrough finally came through Velicka.

Shinnie did well bursting forward on the right and his scooped cross found Gow at the back post.

He passed the ball inside to the Lithuanian who swivelled on the spot before firing home from six yards.

The goal took the wind out of the Wiedenbruck players who then conceded another five minutes later.

Novo delivered a delightful cross at the end of a swift counter attack and Aaron was there to glance an accurate header in to the net.

It was no more than the lively Spaniard deserved as his determination to show the Gers' management what he can do was evident as soon as he jogged on the pitch.

The third and final goal came with four minutes left to play.

Velicka was again involved when he was brought down in the box by a clumsy challenge but it was Aaron that stepped up and his spot-kick crept under the body of keeper Jonaton Mellwig.

The goals put a bit a gloss on what will not go down as one of Rangers' most polished displays although a lot of the first-half performance could be put down to tiredness at the end of a gruelling week of work in Germany.

But the game served its objective and another win keeps the momentum building ahead of the new season.

Teams

RANGERS: Alexander (McGregor 46); Whittaker (Little 46), Weir (McCulloch 46), Bougherra (Gow 62), Papac (Smith 46); Davis (Aaron 46), C. Adam (Thomson 62), Mendes (Shinnie 46), Naismith (Beasley 46); Miller (Lafferty 30 (Novo 62)), Boyd (Fleck 30 (Velicka 62),

Subs: G. Adam,

SC Wiedenbruck: ,

Subs: ,

Ref:

Man-of-the-match:

Attendance: