Goals, red cards, penalties, injury time equalisers. This Boxing Day game had it all but no three points for Rangers as they slipped down to 5th place again.
Dunfermline went ahead twice in the game, Rangers came back to lead the game before Dunfermline equalised with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot.
Referee Craig Thomson had a game he will never forget as he made controversial decisions including sending Dunfermline player Lee Makel off for hand ball and showing Soti Kyrgiakos his third red card of the season.
Dunfermline opened the scoring in the 16th minute of the game thanks to an Andy Tod header but Rangers equalised in the 22nd minute after a well worked free kick which on form Peter Lovenkrands curled into the net.
Rangers were only on level terms for a minute though as Dunfermline went straight up the park and ex Celtic striker Mark Burchill slotted the ball into the net beyond Ronald Waterreus.
The score remained 2-1 to Dunfermline at half-time and Rangers clearly had their work cut out to get anything from this game.
Steven Thompson had a great header at goal at the start of the second half but it was brilliantly saved by the Dunfermline keeper.
In the 65th minute Rangers got their equaliser after Lee Makel was judged to have used his hand to keep a Marvin Andrews header out of the Dunfermline goal. Makel was sent off and Rangers were awarded a penalty which was easily converted by Lovenkrands to make it 2-2.
Two minutes later Rangers had the lead for the first time in the game thanks to a wonderful individual goal from youngster Chris Burke.
Just when Rangers thought they had it wrapped up. There was time for one more twist to the tale deep into injury time. The 3 minutes of added on time had already been played but the referee allowed Dunfermline the time to take a corner and as the ball went in Kyrgiakos was penalised after a tangle with Andy Tod.
Kyrgiakos got a second yellow card and had to leave the field and Darren Young converted the spot kick with the last kick of the game to earn a point for Dunfermline.
Dunfermline: Halliwell, Shields, Scott Wilson, Tod, Thomson (Campbell 68), Ross, Mason, Makel, Darren Young, Hunt (Derek Young 81), Burchill (Tarachulski 82). Subs Not Used: Paterson, McCunnie, Labonte, Craig Wilson.
Rangers: Waterreus, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Smith, Malcolm, Ferguson, Murray, Burke, Lovenkrands (Novo 73), Buffel, Thompson. Subs Not Used: Klos, Pierre-Fanfan, Jeffers, McCormack, Campbell, Lowing.
Manager Rating
Alex McLeish – 6/10. A stranger team selection.
Opponent Rating
Jim Leishman – 6/10. A good fighting performance from his team.