Step up Amoruso. After two hours and twenty eight minutes of largely forgettable football, the former Fiorentina star smashed another fabulous long range goal to end the misery and waiting for the Rangers fans.
Bert Konterman produced an equally impressive effort in 66 minutes while Shota Arveladze scored a third goal to seal things up. No, it was not a great night but the job was done – eventually – and that was the main thing.
McLeish called for self-motivation from his players and demanded a huge improvement from the dismal fare at Shielfield Park last week but there was little evidence in the early moments that the players had heeded his words.
The flat atmosphere matched the performance as Rangers managed just one shot on target in the first half, which was quite woeful, and the frustration was quite apparent on the face of the manager.
Indeed, Rangers nearly suffered the ignominy of going behind when Bert Konterman and Stefan Klos contrived to conceded an indirect freekick just eight yards out after 20 minutes.
Konterman knocked the ball back to Klos with his thigh and the German keeper picked it up, giving Berwick an indirect freekick. The ball was played back to former Celt Marc Anthony and his shot was blocked.
Berwick then forced two corners in quick succession and let’s just say the natives started to get a little restless.
There was a lethargy and lack or urgency in Rangers’ play which the small crowd did not appreciate and you could not blame them.
All that had excited them in the first 45 minutes was a decent run and shot from skipper Barry Ferguson, after a one-two with Arveladze, which came in the ninth minute and was well held by Willie McCulloch.
Arveladze stabbed a left foot shot wide in 13 minutes after Michael Mols had played him in and that was about the strength of Rangers’ danger in the opening 45 minutes.
McLeish decided to take some action at the break and sent on Ronald de Boer for Tony Vidmar and Billy Dodds for Mols, giving the former Scotland star his first taste of the action since November 25.
And it seemed to have the desired effect as there was more purpose about Rangers play and more bite. Stephen Hughes came close with a couple of long range efforts while de Boer fizzed one just over the top from 22 yards.
That said, the tie was still goal-less and the longer that situation remained the more volatile the supporters became.
However, the deadlock was finally broken after two hours and twenty eight minutes of Cup football when man of the moment Amoruso produced a stunning strike for the second time in three days.
It all came about when McCann was blatantly taken out by Berwick fullback Gerry Farrell as he raced towards the box in the 58th minute. Farrell was booked for his crude attempt at stopping the Rangers winger but there was worse to come for Berwick.
Ferguson tapped the resultant freekick into the path of Amoruso and, just as he did at Pittodrie on Saturday, the big Italian produced a super finish. McCulloch got a touch on his 25-yard drive but could not prevent it from tearing into the net.
There was a tangible sense of relief around the sparsely populated stadium and within eight minutes Rangers doubled their lead from an almost identical area.
McCann was impeded again but this time Rangers cleverly worked the ball to Bert Konterman whose powerful, low shot zipped into the left corner and all was well with the world.
Shota Arveladze produced a third goal in 68 minutes when McCulloch was unable to get enough purchase on his attempted block of the Georgian striker’s shot and so in space of 10 minutes the match was well and truly won.
McLeish was able to bring on Peter Lovenkrands for the last 21 minutes, even although the young Dane played 60 minutes for the under-21s in a closed door game against Dunfermline earlier in the day.
He might have scored twice but had one shot blocked and pulled another wide while Dodds also had no luck as he created great space in 75 minutes but held his head when his shot was also blocked.
In the end, it was not very pretty but the job was done and Rangers move on to the fourth round next Saturday when they will meet Hibs at Ibrox.
RANGERS: Klos; Ross, Konterman, Amoruso, Vidmar (de Boer 45; Latapy (Lovenkrands 69), Hughes, Ferguson, McCann; Mols (Dodds 45), Arveladze. Subs not used – Christiansen, Ricksen.
Bookings: None
BERWICK RANGERS: McCulloch; Farrell (McNicholl 78), Wood, A. Neil, Murie; Forrest, Macdonald (M. Neil 29), Anthony (Bradley 67), Bennett, Smith; Feroz. Subs not used – Gilfillan, McNicholl, Huxford.
Bookings: Wood (44), Farrell (57)
Ref: Dougie McDonald.
Att: 17,459
Man of the match: Who else, but big Amo.
Moment of the match: Yes, you’ve guessed it, Amoruso’s terrific strike.