Derby County 3 (Clough 34, Pearce 37, Davidson 48)
Rangers 3 (Durie 2 [29,78], McCoist 65)
Attendance 33,475
There was a massive gathering in a carnival atmosphere with at least half the crowd consisting of the Light Blue legions who went through the full reportoire of Unionist and Loyalist songs with Rule Britannia and God Save The Queen to the fore.
The ‘Tin Man' himself took a bow prior to kick-off to a massive ovation from the entire ground.
Rangers had arrived minus several players, leaving them with only thirteen players, including two goalkeepers, to field during play.
The game kicked off almost twenty minutes late due to the huge crowd – and Ally McCoist almost brought the house down in seven minutes when his chip following a one-two with Chris Waddle was touched wide by Peter Shilton.
Two minutes later Paul Goddard's header from a Stuart Pearce cross flashed just over.
Dean Saunders brought out the best in Andy Goram with an angled drive in eleven minutes that ‘The Goalie' held, then five minutes on the centre, clean through, saw his effort blocked.
It was end-to-end stuff, with Gordon Durie heading over from a McCoist cross in 23 minutes, then Ally created an opening for Chris Waddle two minutes later only for the Geordie winger's twenty-yard shot to be just wide.
Rangers opened the scoring in 29 minutes when Durie headed home a Derek McInnes header across goal.
It was almost 2-0 two minutes later when McCoist's eighteen-yard drive from a Waddle chip was held by substitute goalkeeper Lee Camp.
The scores were level in 34 minutes however when Nigel Clough volleyed home a Gary Rowett cross.
Two minutes later Goram again denied Saunders when clean through – holding the centre's shot.
The Rams took the lead within sixty seconds however – Stuart Pearce beating the offside trap to drive the ball home.
Mark Hateley departed the scene immediately thereafter, to be replaced by Derby Coach Steve Taylor.
The teams returned from the interval break to the tune of ‘THE DAMBUSTERS' ringing around Pride Park from the tannoy – a clear indication that Rangers and their fans were in a country where one is not persecuted for singing good traditional British songs.
Likewise a linesman exchanged his usual flag for a Union Flag – wonder what the bigoted broadcaster Hugh Keevins would have made of this provactive gesture?
Back to the action – and home substitute Bobby Davidson made it 3-1 in 48 minutes when he netted from close range.
Rangers came fighting back – five minutes later Derek McInnes saw his eighteen-yard shot from a Durie lay-off held by Camp, then the latter saw his twenty-yard drive flash just wide in 56 minutes.
Chris Woods had by now replaced Andy Goram in goal, and on the hour he held a shot from fellow substitute Lee Carsley from a Davidson lay-off.
Five minutes later McCoist reduced the deficit when he turned the ball home at the far post following a Durie cross.
The Ibrox legends now went all out for the equaliser with McCoist twice being denied by Camp – firstly when his shot on the turn from a Ray Wilkins pass was blocked in 74 minutes, then sixty seconds later Ally's effort from Waddle's opening was held by the Rams' goalkeeper.
A flowing move in 78 minutes saw Durie level the scoreline after McCoist's pass had been backheeled into his path by Ian Ferguson.
Young Kevin McMinn, son of Ted, made a cameo appearance for the Light Blues in the last ten minutes – and immediately laid on a chance for Ferguson who blasted over, then two minutes later the youngster and McCoist both saw their efforts blocked by Camp, who also denied Ferguson in 86 minutes.
Fittingly the final chance of the afternoon fell to McMinn who, released by Stuart McCall, saw Camp save his effort.
The game ended with honours even, and a good time enjoyed by all.
DERBY COUNTY Shilton (Camp 25); Rowett, Wright, Stimac, Pearce (Meredith 87); Micklewhite (Davies 65), Eranio (McFarland 87), Clough (Carsley 59), Cowans (Johnson 63); Saunders (Hector 65), Goddard (Davidson 45)
RANGERS Goram (Woods 55); McCall, Hateley (Steve Taylor 37), Spackman; McKinnon (Dodds 76), McInnes, Wilkins, I. Ferguson, Durie; McCoist, Waddle
REFEREE Lee Probert