From Andrew Dickson at Stark's Park

CARLOS CUELLAR appears doubtful for the Champions League qualifier with FBK Kaunas after he limped off in today's 2-1 friendly win at Raith.

The defender, a winner of four player of the year awards last season, appeared to hurt his hamstring on his comeback from a minor calf problem.

Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch also missed this afternoon's match, although both are expected to be fit to play against the Lithuanians on Wednesday.

The bigger concern is undoubtedly Cuellar. Following the loss of captain Barry Ferguson for at least three months, being without the Spaniard would be a further blow.

And while Nacho Novo and Daniel Cousin grabbed the glory with the goals that mattered for Gers in Kirkcaldy, another injury setback will dominate Walter Smith's thoughts.

Rangers enjoyed most of the early possession but took some time to test home keeper David McGurn.

Charlie Adam lifted a delicate ball into the box for Cuellar with a free kick after Kris Boyd was fouled but the Spaniard failed to connect.

Kirk Broadfoot then burst forward and cut back from the touchline but nobody was there to convert and Raith scrambled away for a corner.

Boyd headed one chance over and saw another clawed away by McGurn after Kenny Miller headed into the striker's path.

But Gers were at least getting closer and the goalie had to touch Jean-Claude Darcheville's header onto the bar and over before saving well from the Frenchman.

Boyd pulled another effort wide after Adam and Darcheville combined to play him beyond two defenders and it seemed only a matter of time before a goal came.

Little did we know it would be Raith who would claim it with just under half an hour of the match gone.

They served notice of their intentions when Allan McGregor had to react well to palm Allan Walker's drive out to the left wing.

When the ball came back in, Cuellar nicked it away from Walker but pulled up in the process and he now appears to be doubtful for the midweek match.

Moments later, the hosts went ahead. A deep ball was headed down by Mark Campbell but McGregor spilled it and Kevin Smith was sharp enough to prod in the rebound.

Back came Rangers, with Broadfoot nodding onto the woodwork and David Weir seeing his glancing header from an Adam corner held by McGurn.

Smith chose not to make any alterations at half-time and the players he kept faith with continued to search for an equaliser but looked less likely to get it.

Indeed, it was Rovers who could have struck again when Campbell headed goalwards and only just saw his effort go over with McGregor beaten.

With just over an hour gone, Gers made three changes as Boyd, Darcheville and Brahim Hemdani were replaced by Andrius Velicka, Nacho Novo and Dean Furman.

Velicka nearly scored with his first touch, a cute backheel after Furman, Adam and Sasa Papac linked up well on the left.

Where he missed out, Novo didn't and it was the popular little hitman, a hero in Kirkcaldy from his time at Stark's Park, who levelled with 20 minutes left.

Miller sent him in on goal after Velicka's flick and he made made no mistake from 10 yards, drawing applause from both sets of supporters as a result.

Smith pressed for a winner by sending on Daniel Cousin and Kyle Lafferty for Adam and Miller.

Both substitutes made an instant impact, with Lafferty charging down the left and sending a deflected cross in for Cousin to tap in at the back post 11 minutes from the end.

Velicka should have added a third but somehow put the ball wide from close range and it remained 2-1.

That made it four wins in five pre-season games for the Light Blues but it is Cuellar's fitness that will be on manager Smith's mind tonight.

RAITH: McGurn; Wilson, Campbell, Ellis (Sloan 56), Cook; Dunbar (Wardlaw 62), Walker (Silvestro 67), Davidson (Wedderburn 77), Ferry (Beveridge 83); Smith (Graham 73), Weir.

Subs: O'Connor, Mackie.

RANGERS: McGregor; Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Papac; Whittaker, Hemdani (Furman 62), Adam (Cousin 76), Miller (Lafferty 76); Darcheville (Novo 62), Boyd (Velicka 62).

Subs: Alexander, Webster, Emslie.

Referee: Steve Conroy.