GLASGOW (AFP) - Rangers avoided an embarrassing Scottish Cup exit by battling back from a goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to First Division Partick Thistle on Wednesday.

Damon Grey had handed the Jags a stunning 67th minute lead, provoking dreams among the Thistle fans of one of Scottish football's greatest upsets.

However Kris Boyd saved some of the Ibrox side's blushes by equalising within 90 seconds to take the quarter-final tie to a replay.

The opening stages to the game had been surprisingly open with Thistle acquitting themselves well against their more illustrious city neighbours and passing the ball around with confidence.

Rangers Spanish forward Nacho Novo had the first effort on goal with a decent strike from 30-yards which just curled past the post.

Boyd, who had bagged a double on Sunday as the Ibrox side won the Scottish League Cup, missed a good opportunity to open the scoring in the 11th minute.

Steven Naismith swung in a dangerous cross but Rangers top goalscorer headed over from six-yards when he should have at least hit the target.

Partick's Scott Chaplain tried his luck with a long range shot in the 17th minute but his effort from 25-yards was well wide.

The Jags were growing in confidence as the game progressed and they almost took a sensational lead in the 26th minute.

Grey found space on the left to drive in on goal and smash in a right-foot shot which required Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor to turn the ball round his post.

The home side were struggling to test Thistle goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey and long range shots from Charlie Adam in the 31st minute and then Steven Davis three minutes later were well wide of the target.

Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar tested Tuffey for the first time in the night in the 43rd minute.

Adam's outswinging corner was met by the Spanish centre-half, who was captaining the Gers in the absence of club skipper Barry Ferguson, but his header from six-yards was parried out by the Jags goalkeeper.

The Ibrox side were hoping to take a lead into the break and Novo headed over in the final seconds of the half, from Kirk Broadfoot's cross.

Rangers emerged from the half time break with renewed vigour and piled the pressure on their lower league opponents in the opening few minutes.

However, despite forcing a series of corners the SPL side failed to test goalkeeper Tuffey.

In the 58th minute Rangers were denied by the woodwork when Steven Davis' cross found Steven Naismith but the former Kilmarnock forward should have done better than heading onto the top of the crossbar from only six-yards.

But in the 67th minute Partick stunned the Ibrox crowd by taking an unbelievable lead.

Gary Rankins picked the ball up in the middle of the pitch and drove forward before playing a sliding pass through to Grey who showed fantastic composure to bury it into the corner of the net.

The goal provoked crazed celebrations amongst the Thistle fans and stunned silence from the home crowd but within 90 seconds Rangers were level.

Chris Burke's cross was met by Boyd in the middle and although his initial header was saved by Tuffey the Jags goalkeeper could not hold the ball and the striker converted the rebound.

Although Rangers were the more likely side to win the tie in the remainder of the match Partick Thistle defended bravely and were well worthy of their reward of a replay back at Firhill.