Lafferty rescues frustrated Rangers

Rangers wasted a chance to put pressure on Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic after being held to a 2-2 draw at Dundee United on Saturday.

Walter Smith's team could have moved within a point of Celtic with victory at Tannadice, but they were relieved to emerge with a draw after falling behind early in the second half.

Kris Boyd's 17th goal of the season had put the Glasgow club ahead before two goals in four minutes from Lee Wilkie and Warren Feeney rocked Rangers.

Kyle Lafferty equalised with 14 minutes to play but there was little for Rangers to celebrate as Celtic had a chance to go six points clear with a win over Hearts later on Saturday.

Boyd opened the scoring in the 11th minute but Rangers keeper Allan McGregor was soon called into action to push away Jon Daly's downward header after the striker met Craig Conway's corner unchallenged six yards out.

Kenny Miller came within inches of making it two in the 39th minute after Wilkie lobbed his own keeper as he struggled to deal with a long ball under pressure from the Rangers striker.

Miller battled to win the ball with the goal at his mercy but the United defender recovered to scramble it to safety in the goalmouth.

But United came out looking like a different side after half-time and Wilkie levelled in the 50th minute.

Paul Dixon sent over a superb cross beyond the far post, where Wilkie got in front of Sasa Papac to angle the ball across McGregor and into the top corner.

Rangers were on the rack now and conceded again in the 54th minute after failing to deal with another Dixon cross.

McGregor waited in vain for his team-mates to attack the ball inside the six-yard box, and on-loan Cardiff striker Feeney nodded the ball down and into the net.

Feeney almost latched on to Wilkie's header moments later but McGregor came off the line this time to block at close range.

Nacho Novo came on for Miller and set up a 76th-minute equaliser for Lafferty.

The Spaniard drove forward, slipped the ball to the unmarked Lafferty in the left channel, and the Northern Ireland international calmly rolled the ball into the far corner.