Clyde deserve great credit for their spirited performance as it took a late second-half strike from Thomas Buffel to save Rangers blushes after a dramatic 90 minutes that finished 2-2.
Alex McLeish elected to rest Fernando Ricksen, Dado Prso and Julien Rodriguez ahead of Saturday’s crucial SPL clash with Hearts while Barry Ferguson and Hamed Namouchi were given places on the bench.
Included in the starting eleven were Marvin Andrews, Bob Malcolm, and Nacho Novo but the biggest surprise was the inclusion of 17-year-old Murray Park starlet Alan Lowing who put in a impressive display despite giving away a penalty for Clyde’s second goal.
The huge away support was vocal prior to kick-off but they were almost silenced after one minute when Francis Jeffers flicked a near post corner to Nacho Novo but the Spaniard missed from close range.
The early scare should have been a warning to Graham Roberts side but Rangers caught them sleeping again when they opened the scoring three minutes later.
Novo turned provider when he picked the ball up before playing a neat diagonal pass to Buffel who darted beyond the Clyde defence before firing a low left-foot shot beyond the helpless Paul Jarvie.
It was the worst possible start for the Bully Wee who would have arrived at Ibrox hoping to keep the match goalless for as long as possible.
Rangers, on the other hand, were buoyed by their early strike and pushed forward with intent at every given opportunity.
Bob Malcolm, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time, almost showed too much enthusiasm on 21 minutes when he pole-axed Clyde midfielder Stephen O’Donnell and was lucky to only receive a warning from referee Michael McCurry.
Bob then dusted himself down before setting up Rangers next opportunity. He sent a disguised free-kick in to the box from the right wing and Jeffers instinctive shot was brilliantly palmed around the post by Jarvie.
Rangers next chance came on 35 minutes when Jeffers and Buffel combined well on the wing before the latter played a deep cross to Lovenkrands who rose above the Clyde defence but could only head wide of goal.
Although Rangers were rarely troubled by a Clyde side that included former Gers’ players Tom Brighton and Paul McHale, they could not extend their lead prior to the interval leaving the door open for the visitors to get back in to the game during the second period.
As expected from a side managed by Ibrox legend Roberts, Clyde came out in the second half with renewed determination and stunned the home support when they scored an equaliser five minutes after the break.
Brighton showed his lightning pace on the left-wing when he beat Andrews and played a low cross in to the six-yard box to Craig Bryson.
The ball was slightly behind the midfielder but he turned and chipped the ball over Waterreus before celebrating with the ecstatic Clyde fans.
The goal not only silenced Ibrox in an instant but also boosted Clyde’s growing confidence and McLeish acted swiftly by putting striker Federico Nieto on for Francis Jeffers after 61 minutes and Barry Ferguson replacing Malcolm four minutes later.
Before either player had even touched the ball disaster struck with 19 minutes remaining when Lowing brought down Clyde defender Rob Harris in the box and O’Donnell stepped up and sent Waterreus the wrong way from the spot.
Roberts jumped with joy as the ball hit the back of the net but was holding his head in his hands two minutes later when Rangers were gifted an equaliser.
A long ball was punted in to the Clyde 18-yard box and looked to be going safely in to the keeper’s hand but Jarvie let it slip from his grasp and Buffel was there to blast home his second goal of the game.
Nieto was close with a header on 86 minutes but this proved to be the final opportunity of the 90 minutes and the match moved in to extra-time.
Olivier Bernard tried to inspire his side after they had endured a stern talking to from McLeish and the left-back was unlucky when his long-range shot was parried past the post by Jarvie on 92 minutes.
But it was to be Nieto’s night and the Argentinean striker put Rangers back in the driving seat on 97 minutes when he scored his first competitive goal for the club.
Lovenkrands passed the ball to the 22-year-old who controlled the ball before hammering it in to the back of the net with a left-foot shot.
With the game won, Rangers stepped up a gear and Marvin Andrews got on the act when he nodded home a Barry Ferguson cross with nine minutes remaining before Nieto scored his second and his side’s fifth with a delightful looping header after good work from Lovenkrands.
It was great moment for the striker who has surely put himself into contention for a place in the squad for this weekend’s crucial trip to Tynecastle.
RANGERS: 25 Waterreus, 2 Lowing, 3 Bernard, 4 Buffel, 5 Andrews, 6 Kyrgiakos, 7 Murray, 8 Malcolm (12 Ferguson, 65 min) , 9 Jeffers (15 Nieto, 61 min), 10 Novo (14 Namouchi, 83 min), 11 Lovenkrands
Subs Not Used: 1 Klos, 16 Fanfan
Bookings: Lowing
CLYDE: 1 Jarvie, 2 McGregor, 3 Malone, 4 Harris (12 Brawley, 71 min) , 5 McKeown, 6 McHale, 7 Bryson (14 Dick, 88 min), 8 O’Donnell, 9 Williams, 10 Brighton (15 Arbuckle, 68 min), 11 McGeown
Subs Not Used: 16 Miller, 17 Cherrie
Bookings: Malone
Man of the Match: Federico Nieto
Referee: Michael McCurry
Attendance: 30104