Rangers overcome Dumbarton to ease into last 16

2 years ago 33

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Rangers overcame dogged League 2 side Dumbarton and stormy conditions to secure their place in the last-16 of the Scottish Cup.

Goals from John Lundstram and Cyriel Dessers in the first half booked safe passage into the next round.

Matthew Shiels scored a consolation header for Dumbarton, bookended by a second-half James Tavernier penalty and a Scott Wright breakaway to guarantee victory,

Rangers gave Scotland squad goalkeeper Robby McCrorie a rare start as they fielded an otherwise strong line-up for the evening kick-off.

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In lashing rain under the shadow of Dumbarton Rock, Rangers' front line laboured early on, with Dessers being thwarted by Dumbarton goalkeeper Harry Broun and his own bad luck.

As Dumbarton looked to capitalise on the grim weather conditions, Michael Ruth's point blank shot from a wicked right wing cross required a stunning save from McCrorie's face to stop the home side taking a shock lead.

A few minutes later the greasy conditions in the Rangers penalty box had McCrorie scrabbling to get hold of the ball with Ruth and Finlay Gray lurking.

But within moments, Rangers were ahead - Lundstram heading home at the back post from a Souttar flicked-on corner.

Dessers made it two five minutes before half time, getting on the end of a weighted cross into the box from Tavernier and slipping it into the net.

As the conditions - and the pitch - continued to deteriorate through the second half, chances became fewer. Dumbarton's back line dug in, defending deeper into their own half and blocking Rangers' route to goal.

Kalvin Orsi offered Dumbarton some creativity down the right flank, while Ryan Blair flashed just wide from a corner.

Dessers made way for new Rangers loan signing Fabio Silva, but the £35m man struggled to make an impact before Rabbi Matondo was felled in the Dumbarton box to land a penalty, duly dispatched by Tavernier.

Shiels rose above the Rangers defence to head home Ryan Wallace's deftly delivered free kick to give the hosts a brief moment of hope.

But it was snuffed out seconds later after a Rangers breakaway put substitute Scott Wright clean through to slot home beneath Broun.

What they said

Rangers head coach Philippe Clement: "It's a really important win, we were never in trouble. These are always tricky games on a pitch like this. We did the job in a good way. It's now about a good recovery towards Wednesday."

Line-ups

Dumbarton

Formation 4-2-3-1

16Broun
12Pignatiello
26Crighton
22Shiels
6Blair
4Malcolm
18Gray
7OrsiSubstituted forLynasat 87'minutes
17HiltonSubstituted forWallaceat 68'minutes
14WallaceSubstituted forByrneat 79'minutes
23RuthSubstituted forWilsonat 80'minutes

Substitutes

2Lynas
8Wilson
9Wallace
10Byrne
15Vata
19O'Neil
28Lennon

Rangers

Formation 4-3-3

28McCrorie
2Tavernier
6Goldson
5Souttar
3YilmazSubstituted forBarisicat 58'minutes
13CantwellSubstituted forLawrenceat 58'minutes
4Lundstram
43RaskinSubstituted forJackat 57'minutes
45McCausland
9DessersSubstituted forFábio Silvaat 67'minutes
17MatondoSubstituted forWrightat 80'minutes

Substitutes

1Butland
7Fábio Silva
8Jack
11Lawrence
23Wright
27Balogun
31Barisic
44Devine
92Rice

Referee:Alan Muir

Attendance:2,020

Live Text

Match ends, Dumbarton 1, Rangers 4.
Second Half ends, Dumbarton 1, Rangers 4.
Attempt missed. Fábio Silva (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ryan Jack.
Goal! Dumbarton 1, Rangers 4. Scott Wright (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ross McCausland following a fast break.
Attempt missed. Scott Wright (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Attempt missed. Tom Lawrence (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Goal! Dumbarton 1, Rangers 3. Matthew Shiels (Dumbarton) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Wallace with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Borna Barisic (Rangers).
Ryan Wallace (Dumbarton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Fábio Silva (Rangers).
Blair Malcolm (Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Dumbarton. Aron Lynas replaces Kalvin Orsi.
Foul by John Souttar (Rangers).
Declan Byrne (Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Fábio Silva (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Jack.
Borna Barisic (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Carlo Pignatiello (Dumbarton).
Attempt saved. Tom Lawrence (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ross McCausland.
Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
David Wilson (Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.