Loan watch: Defoe gets first Rangers run-out

A crowd of 21,224 turned out at Ibrox after the Gers’ Scottish Cup fourth-round clash at Cowdenbeath had been postponed on Friday.

Defoe, who has signed an 18-month loan deal with the club, was named in the starting line-up and played the first half.

He had one clear sight of goal against the Finnish champions but pulled a low shot wide of the far post after being set up by Ryan Jack.

Defoe is expected to feature when Steven Gerrard’s team resume their Scottish Premiership title bid following the winter break at Kilmarnock on Wednesday.

Mikael Ndjoli, who could line up against Defoe at Rugby Park, came on as a 65th-minute substitute in Killie’s 2-0 win over Forfar in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

The 20-year-old set up fellow substitute Chris Burke for Kilmarnock’s second goal after Stuart Findlay had opened the scoring with a stunning volley.

Alex Dobre continued to make an impression after scoring on his home debut for Yeovil Town in their crucial League Two win over fellow strugglers Notts County.

The Romanian winger’s finely-taken stoppage-time strike capped the Glovers’ 2-0 victory at Huish Park as they moved three points clear of the drop zone.

Since arriving in Somerset, Dobre has helped Yeovil claim back-to-back wins having also started their 1-0 triumph at Mansfield nine days ago.

In an interview with the Yeovil official club website following the Glovers second home league win of the season, Dobre said: “I believed I would score. I said in my mind ‘I need to score’. I left it to the last second but it happened.

“I need to get minutes and get games because it will make me a better player, but I've come here to help this team and climb the league."

Yeovil, who put nine points between them and rock-bottom County, host League Two leaders Lincoln tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale tasted defeat for the first time with AFC Wimbledon as they went down 4-1 at the hands of League One high-fliers Barnsley at Kingsmeadow.

Ramsdale made smart saves to deny Kenneth Dougall and Alex Mowatt but was powerless to stop the Tykes extending to seven their unbeaten run in the league.

Connor Mahoney came on as a 71st-minute substitute in Birmingham City’s 3-1 defeat at Norwich on Friday.

All four goals came in the opening 25 minutes at Carrow Road as the Canaries registered their first win in five league games against the play-off chasing Blues.

Tyler Cordner played the full 90 minutes as Havant & Waterlooville recorded a 3-1 win at Boreham Wood in the National League, the Hawks’ second away victory of the season.

And defender Brennan Camp played his part as Dorchester kept a clean sheet, the Magpies drawing 0-0 against Southern Premier South rivals Chesham United.

Jordan Holmes was an unused substitute in St Mirren’s 3-2 win over Alloa Athletic in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.