Hamilton Academicals came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Rangers in the Scottish Cup fourth round.
Gers escape with replay after brave Hamilton comeback
Ten-man Hamilton Academicals staged a remarkable first-half fightback to earn a replay against Scottish Cup holders Rangers in a thrilling 3-3 draw at New Douglas Park.
The home side looked dead and buried inside the opening half hour when an early goal from Steven Whittaker and Kenny Miller's neat finish put Rangers 2-0 up.
But a controversial penalty - awarded for a nudge on Mickael Antoine-Curier by Kirk Broadfoot - allowed Simon Mensing to reduce the deficit, before Marco Paixao finished from close range to level the scores.
Billy Reid's side then stunned the visitors by taking the lead, Antoine-Curier cashing in on David Weir's slip to slot past Allan McGregor to make it 3-2.
The Gers escaped with a replay though, Miller holding his nerve to convert a 63rd-minute spot kick after Accies' debutant Stuart Elliott had handled.
Rangers pressed for a winner and were aided by Richard Hastings red card, but they couldn't find a way past a solid Hamilton backline.
Walter Smith's men will have been disappointed not to have snatched the win, having bossed possession in the second-half.
They created very little though and Tomas Cerny was seldom tested, although they were much improved after switching off in the final six minutes off the first half.
Spared blushes
Miller spared his side's blushes with a second-half spot-kick, but he and his team mates could be forgiven for thinking the game was over when they took a fourth minute lead.
A Davis free-kick into the box was met by the head of Lee McCulloch who tried to pick out Boyd. Hastings attempted to clear but the ball fell kindly for Whittaker to rifle high into the net.
Accies showed the first warning signs when Antoine-Curier supplied a lovely back-heeled flick for James McArthur to whip a cross-cum-shot into the box but Danny Wilson was alert enough to clear the danger.
They then squandered a great chance to level when a long ball from Trent
McClenahan found Hastings in front of goal but he somehow managed to blast over from five yards when it looked easier to score.
Reid's men were left rueing that miss when Rangers doubled their advantage after 30 minutes.
A Davis ball into the box was touched on by Boyd for Miller and his finishing
was clinical as he drilled past Cerny into the bottom corner.
That proved to be Davis' last real involvement in the game and he left the pitch five minutes later, reportedly with a dead leg, and was replaced by Kevin Thomson.
Just when Rangers thought they were cruising, Accies pulled a goal back when Broadfoot was judged to have fouled Mark McLaughlin in the box and Mensing stepped up to convert with a powerful strike from the spot after 39 minutes.
The home side then stunned the visitors when they netted twice in stoppage time to head into the break with the lead.
Blow
Paixao rifled home the rebound when Antoine-Curier's effort was blocked after a McArthur free-kick into the box caused all sorts of problems for McGregor.
Boyd then limped out of the action before Rangers were dealt another blow when Hamilton netted a third.
Weir slipped attempting to intercept Mensing's through ball and Antoine-Curier showed great composure to slot into the back of the net, with McGregor stranded.
Rangers emerged for the second half knowing they had to show a positive reaction and Miller released Kyle Lafferty on a galloping run up the park but, despite shrugging off McLaughlin, his shot was off-target and hit the side-netting.
The Northern Ireland international then won a free-kick a few yards in front of the corner flag which was played low into the goalmouth by Thomson for McCulloch, but his close-range strike was smothered by Cerny.
Rangers continued to push for the equaliser but Miller volleyed well over the crossbar to jeers from the home fans, who were probably still stunned by their side's dramatic comeback late in the first half.
The Glasgow giants were back on level terms after 62 minutes when Elliott was harshly deemed to have deliberately handled in the box.
Miller took responsibility for the pressure kick and slotted low past Accies goalkeeper Cerny.
Both sides were now desperate to claim the winner and McArthur had the crowd on their feet when he forged through on goal only to fire wide of the upright. The referee's assistant had, however, raised his flag for offside.
Accies where then dealt a blow when Hastings was dismissed with 10 minutes to go after picking up his second yellow card of the day for a foul on substitute Andrew Little.
Rangers had the chance to clinch victory when Miller was fouled on the edge of the box only for Whittaker to curl the resulting free-kick over the crossbar, with both sides having to settle for a replay at Ibrox a week on Tuesday.
