Attendance 49,072
Rangers chalked up their fifth successive League win today with a 4-0 mauling of Dunfermline Athletic at Ibrox this afternoon to retain a two-point advantage over Celtic in the title race.
When Jimmy Calderwoods men were last in Copeland Road the League Championship was being won on a day of drama last May, and whilst today s events were a million miles removed from the frenetic atmosphere of that Sunday afternoon, the fact that the Pars had not defeated Rangers in a League encounter for some 31 years gave some indication of the size of the task confronting the visitors.
Rangers made four changes from the side that won at Tannadice two weeks ago with Henning Berg, Michael Ball, Emerson and Steven Thompson replacing Bob Malcolm, Paulo Vanoli, Nuno Capucho and the injured Ronald De Boer. Peter Lovenkrands, returning from injury, was on the bench against a Dunfermline side containing two former Rangers players, namely Barry Nicholson and Scott Wilson.
The Champions struck early, Thompson opening the scoring with a low, deflected shot from a Ball pass. The goal must have been a boost for the centre, who of course featured for Scotland in Dortmund in midweek, but the game would be cut short for Thompson when he limped off in eighteen minutes, being replaced by Nuno Capucho.
Two minutes later Michael Ball demonstrated the power of his long-range shooting when Derek Stillie turned his thundering 25-yard left-foot drive wide. Dunfermline were not here simply as onlookers however Stevie Crawford taking the ball wide of Stefan Klos in 26 minutes only for his driven cross to be just too high for the incoming Gary Dempsey.
Six minutes later it was 2-0 however when Michael Mols took possession of a slide-rule pass from Henning Berg to find the corner of the net with an angled drive. Rangers were in total command now, looking likely to add to their score with every attack. Capucho should have done better than head Shota Arveladzes cross over, then Emerson s thirty-yard drive was inches wide of the target in 38 minutes.
The third goal was as inevitable as it was deserved when it duly arrived three minutes before the interval, Arveladze stabbing home a dipping Arteta free-kick.
Paulo Vanoli replaced Henning Berg at half-time, with Michael Ball moving into central defence.
The East End Park men were having a difficult enough time of it without presenting Rangers with self-inflicted gifts, but that is what almost happened eleven minutes into the second-half when Andy Tod sliced a Capucho header over his own crossbar.
With his last contribution, Arveladze should have made it 4-0 in 63 minutes when he stumbled in front of goal from a Capucho pass, then was promptly substituted by Lovenkrands.
Within seconds Goal Number Four duly arrived when a superb inter-passing move dissected the Pars defence Capucho turning home a Michael Mols cross. Rangers finished the game well on top, and should certainly have added to their margin of victory in the closing minutes. One mazy Capucho run laid the ball on a plate for Lovenkrands only for the Dane to sky his effort over the bar in 86 minutes, then two minutes later the same two combined once again only for Stillie to turn wide Lovenkrands volley from Capuchos cross.
The final action of the day came at the other end however when Barry Nicholson s 25-yard shot was held by Klos at the second attempt.
Rangers Manager Alex McLeish admitted afterwards:
'I was apprehensive before the game. We had so many injuries, and are presently blooding new players. The first two goals were created out of nothing. Steven Thompson and Henning Berg were both taken off as precautions. Thompson has a niggling knee injury. We looked capable of scoring every time we attacked. Mikel Arteta and Michael Mols were outstanding today. Emerson is a very experienced player who will prove to be a good asset.'
Dunfermline Boss Jimmy Calderwood was reconciled to his sides fate:
'It doesn t get any easier. We gave goals away. I expected better. You need to show character at Ibrox. '
The final scoreline of 4-0 interestingly would have been enough on May 25, and the margin of victory just one goal less. Anyone care to ask Chris Sutton for his comments?
RANGERS Klos; Ricksen, Khizanishvili, Berg (Vanoli 45), Ball; Emerson, Arteta, Nerlinger, Arveladze (Lovenkrands 64); Mols, Thompson (Capucho 18)
UNUSED SUBS McGregor, Hughes
DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC Stillie; Bullen, Wilson, Skerla, Tod (Laboute 79); Nicholson, Darren Young, Mason, Grondin (Kilgannon 72); Crawford, Dempsey (Mehmet 59)
UNUSED SUBS S.Y. Thomson, Byrne
REFEREE Charlie Richmond