BARRY Smith expressed the hope that his Alloa side would be lauded for how well they had performed in earning a draw with Rangers - their second this season - after a remarkable display.

"Credit should go to our players," said Smith as he addressed the media in the bowels of Ibrox shortly after the final whistle. "We worked hard, kept the ball well and produced some very good football."

All of that was certainly true. Yet the doubts this match raised about Ally McCoist's ability to take the club he played for with such distinction into the top flight meant the quality of the visitors' display was overlooked.

Rangers have endured some embarrassing outings against part-time opposition since dropping down to the bottom division of Scottish football two years ago. But this was one of their worst experiences.

Unlike in the past, when they were forced to field a rag-tag bunch of kids and journeyman, they had a side peppered with Scotland internationalists and experienced professionals. Still they toiled.

Rangers went into this game hoping to intensify the pressure on Hearts - who they visit on Saturday - by reducing their lead at the top of the SPFL Championship to a single point. But they will be the ones feeling the heat, their manager in particular, as they head to Edinburgh for their biggest game of the 2014/15 campaign.

"I would have to say first and foremost that we didn't play well," said McCoist. "We have been rightly praised for winning eight games in a row. So we have to take the criticism on the chin because we didn't play well.

"That said, we should still be winning games when we're not playing well. That was a game we felt we should have won. We missed really good chances in the first half. When you give the opposition something to hang on to they gain strength from it and that was the case today. It is a big disappointment. It is obviously a blow ahead of a very important game against Hearts next week"

It is worth remembering that, despite this dreadful result, Rangers remain in contention to win promotion and are in the semi-finals of two cup competitions. However, if there is any repeat of this flat and uninspired showing from Rangers, then their bid to land a third consecutive title and promotion to the Premiership will suffer. That will have consequences for their manager.

Rangers had the ball in the net in the seventh minute after a neat move involving David Templeton, Stevie Smith and Nicky Law. The latter's effort, though, was ruled offside by assistant referee Dougie Potter.

Alloa held their opponents to a 1-1 draw at home in the league back in September in a game they were highly unfortunate not to win and they were clearly not cowed by the occasion yesterday. Michael Doyle forced a fine save from Rangers goalkeeper Steve Simonsen with a long-range shot in the ninth minute after a powerful run from the centre circle to the edge of the box.

In the 17th minute, Law's through ball sent Kris Boyd in on goal with only the keeper to beat, but the striker shot straight at Craig McDowall.

McCoist had been relieved to discover that midfielder Lewis Macleod, on duty with the Scotland squad last week, would be available for selection for this game late on Thursday evening.

The youngster was one of the few players in blue to gain pass marks. Macleod sent Richard Foster haring down the right with a typically precise pass in the 32 minute and his team-mate did well to curl a cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Templeton outjumped defender Jason Marr and connected with the ball only to see his effort spin well wide.

Boyd was removed after less than an hour and replaced by Jon Daly after failing to make a significant impact. The front man has gone through long spells without scoring this season, but he has always worked hard for the team and created chances for those around him. He failed to even do that yesterday.

Rangers broke the deadlock in the 72 minute when Macleod supplied Lee McCulloch with a corner. The centre-half controlled with his left and then volleyed beyond McDowall. The lead was short lived, though.

Eight minutes later Simonsen could only parry a Kevin Cawley shot and Liam Buchanan pounced on the loose ball and fired it into the roof of the net.

Substitute Sebastien Faure ballooned a shot over the bar from a few yards out in injury-time. Had he snatched a win for the home team it would have been an injustice.