Rangers booked their place in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals with a 4-2 win over Alloa Athletic at Ibrox this evening, but it was a game that felt less comfortable than it should have been.
Goals from Nedim Bajrami, Emmanuel Fernandez, James Tavernier and Findlay Curtis sealed the win for Russell Martin’s much-changed side, who made 10 alterations from midweek’s Champions League tie against Viktoria Plzen.
There were competitive debuts for Mikey Moore and Emmanuel Fernandez, with Liam Kelly starting in goal behind a back four of Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga, Fernandez and Bailey Rice. Joe Rothwell, Kieran Dowell and Bajrami made up the midfield, while Moore and Oscar Cortes supported Danilo up front.
Early Intensity Fades
Rangers started brightly, with Moore full of energy on his debut. The youngster had three early chances, linking well with Rothwell and testing Alloa keeper Liam McFarlane. His sharp play led to the opener after 13 minutes, when he picked out Bajrami on the edge of the box. The Albanian midfielder took one touch before curling a superb strike into the top corner.
But as has often been the case, Rangers’ intensity dropped immediately after the goal. Alloa sensed an opportunity and levelled on 25 minutes when Buchanan’s delivery wasn’t cleared, allowing the visitors to bundle the ball home from close range.
Almost instantly, Rangers restored their lead when Rothwell’s free-kick found Fernandez, who marked his debut with a scrappy but important finish.
Just before half-time Bailey Rice was forced off injured, with James Tavernier replacing him.
Captain Steps Up
The second half brought more Rangers pressure without much reward, until VAR intervened. Cortes saw a shot deflected onto O’Donnell’s arm, and a penalty was given. Up stepped Tavernier, who dispatched his effort into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.
Martin then introduced Thelo Aasgaard, Hamza Igamane and Connor Barron, with Igamane in particular injecting energy and intent into the forward line.
Alloa, to their credit, refused to fold. They pulled another goal back on 80 minutes through Scott Taggart after David Devine headed a free-kick back across goal.
But Rangers quickly responded when substitute Findlay Curtis made an instant impact, smashing Dowell’s pass off the post and in to wrap up the 4-2 victory.
Our Take
This was never likely to be a classic, and with so many changes made, the main thing is that Rangers are into the last eight. That said, against League One opposition the match should have been more straightforward than it was.
- Intensity: Once again, Rangers started with good tempo, but as soon as they scored, the pace dropped. This side are nowhere near strong enough right now to take their foot off the gas and expect to cruise. That’s a lesson Russell Martin’s men need to take seriously.
- Standout Players: Mikey Moore showed flashes of real quality on debut, while Thelo Aasgaard and Joe Rothwell also impressed. However, Nedim Bajrami was arguably man of the match — scoring a brilliant opener, working tirelessly, and linking play intelligently.
- Igamane’s Energy: Hamza Igamane only came on late but immediately showed why many fans believe he should be the club’s first-choice striker. His movement, energy, and willingness to drive forward stood out in stark contrast.
- Cortes Struggles: On the other hand, Oscar Cortes — recently signed permanently for £4m — again failed to take his chance. He wasn’t alone, with some of the fringe players not doing enough to convince the manager they deserve more game time.
Next in the League Cup
The victory sends Rangers through to the quarter-final draw, where they will host either Hibernian or Livingston at Ibrox. The two sides face each other tomorrow knowing a trip to Govan awaits the winners.
For Rangers, progress is the most important thing — but the need to maintain intensity for 90 minutes remains the key challenge.
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