RANGERS booked their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable victory over Raith Rovers at Ibrox.
Connor Goldson broke the deadlock for Michael Beale’s side late in the first half and the Championship outfit had no route back when Ryan Nolan converted into his own net. Scott Arfield completed the scoring late on.
Ian Murray’s side never looked like upsetting the odds and there was no drama like in the previous round victory over Partick Thistle. It was a straightforward win for the holders.
HAMPDEN AWAITS FOR RANGERS
If Beale’s side go on and retain their Scottish Cup trophy this term, this fixture won’t feature prominently in the celebration DVD. It was hardly a classic, put it that way.
Rangers should have won by a greater margin but it was ultimately irrelevant. This was a case of job done and move on and Beale can now wait for the draw for the last four on Monday evening.
It took until three minutes before the break for Rangers to get themselves in front as Goldson headed home from a corner. The game was won there and then.
The second goal arrived just before the hour mark as a teasing James Tavernier cross was inadvertently scooped into his own net by Nolan. There was little he or keeper Jamie MacDonald could do as it became a case of damage limitation in the closing stages.
Supporters were right to expect a higher level of performance on the back of the fine win over Hibernian, but Rangers were lackadaisical for much of the game and their play was slow and sluggish rather than crisp and clinical.
Beale will surely be disappointed and frustrated with aspects of the performance. He won’t argue with the outcome, though, and a win was all that mattered as his impressive record as boss was added to once again.
BEALE TOOK NO CHANCES
Beale had insisted at his pre-match press conference that he would select a strong side for this last eight fixture. He was true to his word and only one change – as John Lundstram replaced Ryan Jack – was made from the team that was so impressive at Easter Road.
A calf issue played a part in the decision to rest Jack for this one and it was an afternoon where Beale could have gone with a more adventurous line-up. It was a case of continuity for the Ibrox boss, though, and he would have expected Rangers to pick up where they left off.
That theory didn’t exactly come to fruition. It was largely lacklustre and low-key stuff from Rangers but the result that Beale needed was earned in the end as a return to Hampden was secured.
The form in the first months of Beale’s tenure has – the Old Firm defeat aside – been encouraging and impressive. This wasn’t one to shout from the rooftops about, but it was significant nonetheless and the Englishman is well aware of the importance of delivering silverware in his first season.
This wasn’t a day for taking chances and trying to overcomplicate things. A strong, settled starting line-up got the job done for Rangers and attentions now turn to Motherwell next weekend before an international break that gives Beale a chance to regroup once again.
SQUAD STRENGTH ON SHOW
There have been times this term where the squad has been threadbare. A glance at the bench was a positive to take, therefore, from a day that was straightforward enough for Rangers.
There was still no sight of Malik Tillman and the news on Friday that Kemar Roofe has been ruled out for the rest of the season came just days after Beale confirmed that Tom Lawrence has suffered the same fate. Both of those players continue to be huge misses but Tillman’s return will be welcomed.
The sight of Ridvan Yilmaz was a heartening one for supporters. The Turkish internationalist has not been seen since the day that Beale was in the stands for the win over Aberdeen and Yilmaz now has the final weeks of the campaign to show what he can bring to the side in the longer term.
John Souttar retained his place in the squad after returning to action against Kilmarnock last weekend and there was strength in depth with the likes of Arfield, Ianis Hagi and Alfredo Morelos on the sidelines. It was the former Canadian internationalist that rounded off the win with a clinical finish late on.
Yilmaz, Souttar and Arfield were introduced after 65 minutes as they got much-needed game time under their belts. Hagi and Morelos were given the final quarter of an hour and having those options in the coming weeks could be crucial as Rangers attempt to end the season with a silver lining.
UNION BEARS BOYCOTT
The Union Bears have made themselves heard with their words and their actions once again this season. Here, they were noticeable by their absence.
The section of the Broomloan Front that is usually a concoction of noise and colour was empty and silent as the teams took to the park. A narrative quickly spread online that an anti-board banner had been confiscated and the decision not to take their seats was in protest.
Ibrox sources dismissed suggestions that was the case, though, and insisted it was the offensive nature of the banner that was the issue. A statement from Rangers later read: “Rangers refused to allow an offensive banner relating to the police service to be displayed at today’s match. The Union Bears elected to absent themselves from the stadium because the Club would not permit the offensive anti-police banner display.”
The Union Bears have, of course, been vocal critics of the club in recent weeks. A message reading ‘Two trophies in 11 years - uphold the standards that matter’ was unfurled during the win at Livingston and irked boss Beale, while another that proclaimed 'After fifty-five titles you took your eye off the ball. Time for change’ was directed at the Ibrox board last weekend.
The atmosphere certainly suffered a result of their self-imposed exile and time will tell what the public response to the latest Ibrox issue is. It is certain that supporters have not heard the last of the Union Bears.
RAITH RESISTENCE FUTILE
This was always going to be a tough task for Rovers. Ian Murray’s side can’t be faulted for effort but they never had the quality or the game plan to cause Rangers any issues.
Some 1,600 supporters made the trip to Ibrox to back their team and they were in fine spirits and voice throughout, even if there was very little for them to cheer. The visitors defended deep and in numbers and frustrated Rangers in spells but the timing of the goals killed their chances.
A speculative strike from Esmael Goncalves – as he attempted to beat Allan McGregor from inside his own half – was as good as it got in terms of chances in the first period. In the end, that effort drifted wide as McGregor watched on but the keeper was forced into action a couple of times after the break.
The experience of playing at Ibrox and facing a team of the quality of Beale’s side will be beneficial for the Championship outfit and there will a useful financial boost for the Kirkcaldy coffers as well as their Hampden dreams came to an end.
