Scottish Championship: Rangers edge Queen of the South at Ibrox

A flurry of goals early in the second half saw Rangers edge closer to the Scottish Championship title as they beat Queen of the South 4-3 in a thriller at Ibrox.

Mark Warburton's side now need just two wins to guarantee top spot and a return to the Scottish top flight.

Rangers were looking to get back to winning ways after blowing a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Falkirk last weekend, with Harry Forrester getting them off to the perfect start after 14 minutes.

Iain Russell scored from the spot 10 minutes later to level the game but goals from Michael O'Halloran, Andy Halliday and James Tavernier shortly after the interval restored Rangers' lead before Gary Oliver and Mark Millar struck for Queens.

The win moves Rangers 14 points clear of Falkirk, who lost at home to Livingston, with a game in hand still to play over the Bairns.

Forrester started brightly and broke the deadlock after picking up a backheel from Halliday before firing into the net from inside the box.

Rangers dominated possession for large parts of the first half but were pegged back after 25 minutes when skipper Lee Wallace brought down Russell in the box, with the striker scoring the resulting penalty.

The sides were all square at half-time with few goalscoring chances created in the opening period but that was all to change after the break, with four goals in the opening 11 minutes of the second half.

O'Halloran was the first to strike, putting his side back in front just 58 seconds after the restart when he controlled Wallace's deep cross to the back post before smashing the ball into the far corner.

Halliday extended Rangers' lead soon after as the midfielder met Kenny Miller's cross with an overhead kick. Five minutes later it was 4-1 as right-back Tavernier bagged his 12th goal of the season after another Miller cutback.  

While some at Ibrox could have been forgiven for thinking that may have wrapped up the points, the visitors had other ideas with Oliver getting one back just 60 seconds later, before substitute Millar struck from 30 yards in the final minute to ensure a nervy finish for the home side.

Elsewhere, Falkirk's promotion charge was dealt a blow as they lost 2-1 at home to Livingston.

Jordan White gave the visitors the lead against the run of play after 76 minutes when he was set up by Liam Buchanan and they doubled their lead in the 90th minute through Samuel Stanton.

There was more drama to come, however, as Will Vaulks pulled one back for the home side in injury time. Jackson Longridge was then sent off for Livingston as Falkirk were awarded a penalty, only for John Baird to see his effort saved by Marc McCallum.

The loss means Falkirk are six points clear of Hibernian in second spot but Alan Stubbs' men have three games in hand.

Raith Rovers all but sealed their place in the Championship play-offs as James Craigen's goal saw them beat nearest challengers Morton 1-0 at Cappielow.

And Keith Watson's goal five minutes from time was all that was needed to separate the sides at The Indodrill Stadium as St Mirren beat bottom side Alloa.