AN EARLY Steven Davis goal was the difference this evening as Rangers progressed to the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup with a 1-0 victory over Dundee.
The Northern Irishman headed home the only goal of the game in the 10th minute as the Light Blues booked their place in the last four of the competition.
From Sunday’s Scottish Premiership victory away to Motherwell, Jon McLaughlin, James Sands, Ridvan Yilmaz, Steven Davis, Scott Wright, Fashion Jr and Alfredo Morelos come into the starting line-up.
That meant Rangers lined up at Ibrox with McLaughlin in goal and a back four of James Tavernier, Leon King, James Sands and Ridvan Yilmaz.
John Lundstram and Steven Davis are joined in midfield by Malik Tillman, while Scott Wright and Fashion Jr will provide support for striker Alfredo Morelos.
Kemar Roofe was back in the matchday squad after a spell out through injury and was joined there by Robby McCrorie, Antonio Colak, Ryan Kent, Ben Davies, Charlie McCann, Borna Barisic, Scott Arfield and Adam Devine.
It was a fast-paced start at Ibrox as both sides looked to threaten in the early stages, Josh Mulligan headed over for the visitors after a Luke McGowan cross but it was the Light Blues who were dominating the majority of possession as they looked to carve an opening against the Championship side.
With just under 10 minutes on the clock, that breakthrough did come as Rangers edged ahead in this cup quarter-final. A one-two between Scott Wright and Malik Tillman saw the USA international flick the ball into the path of Wright as he drove into the box.
The winger released a powerful shot at goal which was pushed away by Dundee goalkeeper Adam Legzdins but Steven Davis was alert to the rebound to head home his second goal of the season.
Shortly after, the Northern Irishman almost turned provider as he won the ball back in a dangerous position inside the Dundee box before picking out Scott Wright but his curling shot was just over the bar.
Wright was again involved in attacking play for Rangers as he delivered a dangerous ball into the box from the left in search of Alfredo Morelos at the back post but Dundee captain Ryan Sweeney managed to get a strong touch on the ball on the line to turn it behind for a corner.
Jordan McGhee tried a strike from distance for Dundee as Gary Bowyer’s side tried to get back into the tie but he couldn’t keep his effort down as a drifted over the bar, before Malik Tillman headed over at the other end as he got on the end of a ball from captain James Tavernier.
The Gers were pushing for a second goal as Tavernier flicked the ball into the path of Alfredo Morelos but the Colombian’s strike was blocked by Legzdins.
Ridvan was next to have a shot as he found himself in space on the edge of the box but his dipping right-footed effort was just inches high as it landed on the roof of the net.
Into the second-half, Ridvan came close again as his cross from the left took a deflection off of a Dundee defender and looked to be heading goalward but Legzdins was able to touch in onto the bar before the danger was cleared by the visitors.
Ridvan was again denied by the Dundee goalkeeper with 51 minutes on the clock as he showed his pace darting towards goal and getting on the end of a Scott Wright ball to release a powerful strike at goal but it was blocked by Legzdins.
After being introduced from the bench, Zak Rudden had a chance almost instantly for Dundee as they capitalised on a loose ball in the middle of the pitch to send the striker through on goal. Jon McLaughlin was quick off his line to get a strong connection on the ball and deny the former Rangers Academy player a shot at goal.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst made three changes to his side with just under 20 minutes of the game remaining as Kemar Roofe was introduced for his first appearance of the season alongside Charlie McCann and Scott Arfield, with Alfredo Morelos, Malik Tillman and Steven Davis making way.
Dundee were looking to cause Rangers problems in the closing stages of this game as they searched for an equaliser. Max Anderson turned in the box to get a shot away but it was blocked by Leon King before the ball was sent into the area again by Derick Osei with his cross drifting just over the top of the bar.
McGhee headed over a cross from Cammy Kerr, before Rangers substitute Charlie McCann saw an effort high of the target after getting on the end of a ball from Kemar Roofe in some late action. However, it was Rangers who took the victory at Ibrox as attention turns back to league business against Livingston on Saturday.
RANGERS: McLaughlin, Tavernier, King, Sands, Ridvan, Lundstram, Davis (McCann, 73), Tillman (Arfield, 73), Wright, Fashion Jr, Morelos (Roofe, 73).
Subs not used: McCrorie, Colak, Kent, Davies, Barisic, Devine
Dundee: Legzdins, Kerr, Marshall (Ashcroft, 73), French, Sweeney, McGhee, Mulligan (Osei, 67), Robinson (Rudden, 67), McCowan (Jakubiak, 83), Cameron (Anderson, 67), Grayson.
Subs not used: Lawlor, Byrne, McGowan, Ashcroft, Strachan.
Referee: William Collum
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