RANGERS and Birmingham celebrated and remembered the career of Trevor Francis in an inaugural memorial match at St Andrew’s this evening.
An own goal and an Alfie May strike had the home side two goals ahead at the break, before Scott Wright got on back for Rangers in front of a crowd of over 19,000 in the Midlands.
Regarded as the Midlands’ club’s greatest-ever player, the match was played on the one-year anniversary of his passing. Francis spent the 1987/88 season at Ibrox, lifting the League Cup with the club.
For tonight’s match, there was a return to the starting line-up for captain James Tavernier, who made his comeback from injury for his first minutes of pre-season. He played in a back four alongside Leon Balogun, Clinton Nsiala and Ridvan, in front of goalkeeper Liam Kelly.
Mohammed Diomande was in midfield alongside Cole McKinnon and Alex Lowy, while Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland supported Danilo up front.
Ahead of kick-off the players, staff and supporters of both clubs joined in applause to remember Francis.
Rangers’ first chance of the game came with 7 minutes on the clock as Rabbi Matondo broke up the pitch to drive deep into the Birmingham half before finding Ridvan to his left, but the Turkish full-back’s cross was just wide of the post.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead with 10 minutes played at St Andrew’s. Koji Miyoshi’s corner was flicked on by captain Krystian Bielik before coming off of James Tavernier at the back post to send it beyond Liam Kelly.
Shortly after, Alfie May flashed a low, drilled effort just inches wide of the post, before at the other end Alew Lowry had a strike held by Birmingham goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Philippe Clement’s men were coming more into the game, as Cole McKinnon picked out Rabbi Matondo as he made another good run into the box but his right-footed shot was held by the goalkeeper.
Emil Hansson was next to have a go for the hosts as he struck a powerful volley towards goal from an Ethan Laird cut-back, which flashed just wide of Liam Kelly’s left-hand post.
With 37 minutes played, it was 2-0 to Birmingham City. It again came down the right-hand side as Ethan Laird drove into the box and the full-back went down under the challenge of Ridvan. The referee didn’t blow his whistle, and the Birmingham man managed to touch it into the path of Alfie May who finished a powerful right-footed strike into the back of the net.
There were four changes at the break as Leon King, Connor Barron, Scott Wright and Cyriel Dessers all came on in place of James Tavernier, Mohamed Diomande, Alex Lowry and Danilo.
Early in the second-half, Scott Wright sent the ball across the face of goal with Cyriel Dessers touching it into the path of Rabbi Matondo but his strike was deflected wide for a corner.
With 68 minutes on the clock at St Andrew’s, Rangers had a goal back as Robbie Fraser ‘s cross was flicked into the path of Scott Wright by Cyriel Dessers and it was a fine finish from Wright who controlled the ball with his chest before drilling it into the back of the net.
Dessers had a chance shortly after as he got on the end of a ball inside the box and looked to lift it over Birmingham’s substitute goalkeeper Ryan Allsop but he managed to gather and deny the Rangers striker.
Rangers’ final pre-season friendly is on Saturday afternoon away to Union Berlin.
RANGERS: Kelly, Tavernier (King, 46), Balogun, Nsiala, Ridvan (Rice, 75), Diomande (Barron, 46), McKinnon (Curtis, 75), Lowry (Wright, 46), Matondo (Fraser, 62), McCausland (Stevens, 79), Danilo (Dessers, 46).
Subs: Budinauckas, Devine, Allan, Nsio.
Birmingham City: Peacock-Farrell, Laird, Sanderson, Bielik, Hansson, Miyoshi, Seung-Ho, Cochrane, James, May, Willumsson.
Subs: Allsop, Buchanan, Fogarty, Roberts, Home, Jutkiewicz, Anderson, Hall, Donovan, Khela, Bateman, Klarer, Dembele.