Rangers need extra time to open with win

The match was their first competitive outing since the club was consigned to liquidation over the summer and voted into the Scottish Third Division.

Andy Little celebrated his return to the club on Saturday with the opener after just four minutes but Rangers were forced to negotiate the first round tie the hard way when Andy Jackson levelled for the Second Division hosts just before the interval.

It took 102 minutes of football before McCulloch found the winner to finally allow Rangers to begin a new era on a positive note.

n Theo Walcott and Thomas Eisfeld were on target as the Gunners twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw in yesterday’s friendly with Hong Kong champions KitChee.

The Gunners fell behind to goals from Yago and Dani Cancela but battled back on each occasion as their three-match Asia tour brought a win, a defeat and a draw.

Ignasi Miquel’s error gifted the opening goal to Yago in the eighth minute, but Walcott levelled midway through the first half.

n Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has revealed he is confident of getting the players he needs to improve his squad.

The Italian, who signed a new five-year contract to stay with the Barclays Premier League champions this summer, remains optimistic he can land the players he wants, with the start of the season less than three weeks away.

“We need to work harder than last year and buy the players who can help our team,” said Mancini. “I’m confident.

“We don’t need big changes, not 10 players like two or three years ago – but we need three, four, five players. But they can be young guys for the future because it’s important to put them in the squad and make them good like the players we already have.”

n West Brom manager Steve Clarke has insisted striker Shane Long is not for sale.

But Clarke admitted that Albion have rejected a bid – believed to be from Blackburn – for another Republic of Ireland international forward in Simon Cox.

“There has been nothing regarding Shaun,” said Clarke.

“There have been no bids and he is not for sale. His future is with us 100 per cent.”