It had been 23 long days since Rangers last played a competitive match but the Scottish Cup clash at Arbroath was well worth the wait as Alex McLeish’s side booked their place in the fourth round with a composed and well-earned 3-0 victory.
The Light Blues continued their impressive domestic form from the whistle and thankfully there was no sign of last season’s third round slip up at Berwick, despite the cold North Sea wind making playing conditions less than ideal!
Steven Thompson, Mikel Arteta, Bert Konterman, Kevin Muscat and Peter Lovenkrands were all omitted from the squad but Rangers clearly didn’t require their services, as there was more than enough quality on show to despatch the First Division strugglers.
Aggressive early midfield play from Barry Ferguson and Fernando Ricksen set the tone of the match and Captain Marvel almost opened the scoring after just one minute. He cracked a superb 25-yard shot towards Arbroath’s goal and keeper Craig Hinchcliffe was a relieved man to see Baz’s shot rebound off the bar and away from danger.
Returning Dutchman Arthur Numan was next to test the home goalie and Hinchcliffe reacted quickly to hold the defender’s low net-bound shot. Neil McCann also fancied his chances from distance moments later but the winger’s controlled left-foot effort flashed just over the bar.
To their credit, the Red Lichties weathered this early storm and made it more and more difficult for Rangers to break down but Big Eck’s troops would not be denied and Barry Ferguson broke the deadlock after 27 minutes.
McCann and Ronald de Boer played a quick short corner, Neil passed to Barry at the edge of the area and the Ibrox idol cracked a low shot through Shota Arveladze’s legs and into the back of the net. It was a deserved goal from Ferguson, his 15th of the campaign, as he had driven his side on from the first second.
The strike deflated John Brownlie’s men and the tie was wrapped up five minutes later when Craig Moore made it 2-0 with a superb header. Fernando Ricksen sent over a delicious corner from the right and Oz powered home from 12-yards.
A commanding lead at half-time for Gers then but Arbroath stuck to their task and had a chance to pull one back at the start of the second period. Former Light Blue starlet Ross Currie forced a fine close-range save from Stefan Klos but that miss only spurred Rangers into action.
Arthur Numan surged forward minutes later, played a neat one-with with Shota Arveladze and forced a fine stop from home hero Hinchcliffe.
The Ibrox men continued to press for a third and Michael Mols really should have supplied it on the hour but he somehow contrived to miss from just six yards!
Brownlie replaced central defender John Cusick with Darren Spink on 56 but Rangers caught the new man cold seconds later when Shota Arveladze rattled home from the edge of the box. The Georgian hitman spun Spink on a dime and cracked a low shot into the far corner past a dejected Hinchcliffe.
From then on it was one-traffic as Gers camped out in the Red Lichties half.
A combination of resolute defending and poor finishing kept the scoreline down but the result was never in question and the Scottish Cup holders marched proudly into the fourth round.
Sadly the game ended on a sour note for Rangers as Lorenzo Amoruso and Fernando Ricksen both required stitches after a nasty clash of heads. Bob Malcolm was introduced to the action with around a quarter of an hour to play but the Bridgeton boy was rarely called into action as Gers coasted to victory with just ten men.
Overall, a fine return to action for Big Eck’s side and the Light Blue gaffer will be demanding more of the same at Hibs when the SPL resumes on Wednesday night.
Eck will be without Amo for the trip to Easter Road but Fernando should recover in time to feature.
ARBROATH: Hinchliffe, Tait, Florence, Cusick(Spink 56), Ritchie, Currie, Brownlie (Swankie 70) Cargill, Feroz, McGlashan, Henslee (Heenan 66)
Subs not used: McCauley, Woodcock
Bookings: None
RANGERS: Klos; Ross, Numan, Moore, Amoruso (Malcolm 76); Ricksen, Ferguson(c), McCann(Caniggia 68); de Boer, Mols, Arveladze (MacLean 73)
Subs not used: McGregor, Nerlinger
Bookings: None
Referee: John Rowbotham
Attendance: 4125
Man of the Match: Barry Ferguson