quarter-finals of the League Cup with a 4-0 win over
East Fife at Dunfermline tonight.
There were just two survivors from Sunday in the
visitors line-up, namely Steven Whittaker and Carlos
Cuellar against a Methil side that included former
Ranger Kevin Fotheringham.
Making long-awaited competitive debuts for the Light
Blues were Roy Carroll and Alan Gow, signed from West
Ham United and Falkirk respectively during the close
season. Kris Boyd led the team out as captain.
When the two clubs last met in the League Cup 21 years
ago at the old Bayview Park it was a close-run affair
with Rangers eventually ensuring progress via a
penalty shoot-out following a goalless draw, but in
truth there was never any prospect of a repeat
scenario tonight.
There was a healthy crowd of 7,413 inside East End
Park with 'Gers fans occupying three sides of the
ground, the home fans being restricted to the Main
Stand.
Both sides, for a pleasant change, lined up numbered
one to eleven, and after some opening skirmishes
Rangers opened the scoring in thirteen minutes when
Nacho Novo gathered a Kirk Broadfoot throw-in before
rifling home a powerful 25-yard drive that appeared to
catch goalkeeper Wullie McCulloch by surprise.
The Third Division leaders responded within two
minutes, Lloyd Young's snap-shot from the edge of the
box hitting the top of the crossbar.
Gow was exhibiting no little skill, although perhaps
trying too hard to impress at times - but he did
create an opening for Kirk Broadfoot on the half-hour
with an exquisite flick only for the former St. Mirren
player to slice his shot well wide.
Four minutes later it was 2-0 however when Boyd netted
from close range after Broadfoot's shot had been
flicked on by Novo. It was the striker's fiftieth goal
for the club.
The tie was won, but Rangers continued to press for
more goals with Boyd heading over from Charlie Adam's
corner in 51 minutes.
Adam was as deadly as ever from dead-ball situations,
and three minutes later from another corner Cuellar
bundled the ball home for goal number three.
Thomas Buffel made a welcome return just before the
hour after an eight-month injury absence, replacing
Novo - and within five minutes he had won a penalty
when he was chopped down by the experienced Steven
Tweed. Boyd did the needful from the spot.
One mazy Chris Burke run ended with a shot from the
edge of the box that flashed just wide in 73 minutes.
Six minutes later there was a debut appearance for
Paul Emslie when he replaced Adam, and almost
immediately the youngster's 22-yard drive from a Gow
free-kick was touched over by McCulloch.
Rangers were through to the last eight, and will await
tomorrow afternoon's draw with interest.
EAST FIFE McCulloch; McDonald, Fotheringham; Smart,
Tweed, Blackadder; Gordon, Stewart, McManus, Young,
Cameron
UNUSED SUBS O'Reilly, Nicholas, Martin, Walker, Fox
RANGERS Carroll; Whittaker, Broadfoot; Faye, Cuellar,
Ehiogu; Burke, Adam, Boyd, Novo, Gow
UNUSED SUBS Papac, Cousin, Buffel, Smith, Emslie
REFEREE William Collum
Attendance 7,413