How the Rangers players rated at Ibrox

Allan McGregor 6/10Recovered from a dicey kick out early on but quick off his line to narrow angle and make a crucial block from Yannick Djalo with the score still at 0-0. Spilled a shot in the second half and was lucky to see it cleared.

Richard Foster 5/10

Has made only nine starts for Rangers, four of them in Europe. But the on-loan full-back slotted in well enough at right-back. Despite his pace he was often left chasing shadows.

Madjid Bougherra 6/10

Took a painful knock on the shoulder in the opening 45 minutes but came back on to try to help shackle the growing threat of Sporting striker Helder Postiga. Galloped forward at will but with no real payback.

David Weir 7/10

Mr Reliable, he was there with a timely intervention as Sporting tried to wheedle their way through as the first half wore down. Read attacks well, showed the right level of aggression and got a boot in where it mattered.

Sasa Papac 7/10

Rarely done out on the flanks as he won his tackles. He was also a useful option for Rangers going forward, whether on the overlap or cutting inside.

Steven Whittaker 8/10

From his berth wide right of midfield he was ever-willing to link up with those inside him and delivered decent ball into Lafferty from the flanks. Had a couple of decent skelps at goal from long-range as well before finally breaking the deadlock with a powerful header.

Steven Davis 6/10

Always likely to find it tough in a midfield well matched up to anything Rangers could conjure up, he was unable to get a real grip on the game. Sloppy with his distribution at times, but still got in about the visitors to break up play.

Maurice Edu 6/10

Not one of his best performances. Worked hard enough but with very little reward. Tucked into the void left by Bougherra whenever the centre-back went on one of his surges up field.

Vladimir Weiss 6/10

There were flashes of invention as he broke forward but remains too hit or miss when it comes to final ball. Posed more danger in second half. Defensively lightweight, though and failed to track his man for the equaliser.

El Hadji Diouf 6/10

Former Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes patrolled the area he occupied to great effect, giving the Senegalese player little scope to carve out many openings. Booking for diving at end of the first half but he won the corner from which Rangers scored.

Kyle Lafferty 5/10

Lone striker in the absence of Nickca Jelavic, but couldn't find scoring touch. Was gifted handful of opportunities in the first half but sent them all high and wide. In the second he should have capitalised on a spell of concerted Rangers pressure but again shot was off target.