91Èȱ¬

Lee McCulloch claimed his 25th goal of the season as already crowned champions Rangers secured a comfortable victory over Clyde in Division Three.

The Light Blues captain struck early in the second half before Kyle Hutton doubled the advantage late on to seal the points for the champions.

With a number of other injury problems to contend with, Rangers named youngsters Luca Gasparotto and Daniel Stoney on the bench for the first time.

The home side passed up a decent early chance to open the scoring.

David Templeton played the ball wide to Lee Wallace and he squared across goal for McCulloch, but the skipper just failed to connect and supply the simple tap-in that was required.

Hutton unleashed a shot from distance that took a slight deflection off McCulloch and forced a low save from goalkeeper Jamie Barclay.

The midfielder then turned provider, teeing up the shot for Ian Black on the edge of the box, but he ballooned well over the crossbar.

Rangers kept up the pressure and Fraser Aird burst down the left flank before cutting inside and trying his luck with a swerving effort that was beaten away by Barclay.

Mitchell followed up with a shot that was too high and did little to trouble the Bully Wee goalkeeper as the first half ended goalless.

Rangers made a change at the interval, with Gasparotto making his senior debut, after replacing Emilson Cribari, and slotting into the heart of defence.

The home side surged into the lead 10 minutes after the restart when a Templeton ball was met by McCulloch and he lashed beyond the reach of Barclay.

The Bully Wee goalkeeper was then forced into action to block an effort from Gasparotto as the young defender attempted to add his own name to the score-sheet.

There was another maiden bow when Stoney was thrown into the action for Aird with six minutes to go.

Hutton then made sure of the points with 88 minutes on the clock when he dispatched an angled drive past Barclay and into the far bottom corner.

Rangers: Alexander, Mitchell, Faure, Emilson Cribari (Gasparotto 46), Wallace, Crawford (Naismith 66), Hutton, Black, Aird (Stoney 84), McCulloch, Templeton.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Murdoch.

Goals: McCulloch 55, Hutton 89.

Clyde: Barclay, Scullion (Lyden 87), Gray, Fordyce, McDonald, Nicoll, Sweeney, Hay, McCluskey (Fitzharris 78), McGachie (Watt 59), McCusker.

Subs Not Used: Rajovic, MacBeth.

Booked: Nicoll, Hay, McCusker, Scullion.

Att: 44,453

Ref: Calum Murray