|
Josh Windass' hat-trick gave Rangers a 3-0 victory as they produced a professional display to dispatch Fraserburgh from the William Hill Scottish Cup. The clash took place 59 years to the day that the Highland League minnows knocked Dundee - then one of Scotland's strongest sides sitting atop the old First Division - out of the cup to claim the biggest win in their history. But thankfully for Gers there was no repeat of that giant-killing act as Windass struck early before adding another two after the break to nudge Graeme Murty's men into the fifth round. While Burgh ended the game with 10 men after substitute Graham Johnston got himself sent off near the end, Rangers' reward for avoiding this potential banana skin is a trip to Ayr on February 11. Jason Cummings was rewarded with his first Gers start after netting what proved to be the winner in Sunday's clash at Ross County as he replaced transfer target Alfredo Morelos. The little Colombian was the subject of an £8million bid from Chinese outfit Beijing Renhe but he was on the coach for the trip to Aberdeenshire after being named on the bench. The visitors did not exactly look comfortable as they ran out at the Brock's tiny home ground, perched just a goal-kick from the North Sea. Mark Cowie's side adapted quicker to the swirling wind, with the manager's brother Ryan sweeping wide just five minutes in. But Gers did eventually get into their stride and it took a decent block from home goalkeeper Peter Tait to keep out Cummings after tidy link-up between Windass and Niko Kranjcar. And they got the breakthrough on the quarter-hour mark. Again it was a touch of quality from Kranjcar as he dinked the ball in behind the Burgh back-line for Jason Holt. But before the midfielder could pull the trigger he was flattened by Ryan Cowie's clumsy challenge - referee Greg Aitken pointed to the spot and Windass eased Light Blue nerves by smashing past Tait. The hosts were screaming for a spot-kick of their own as William West went down claiming a push in the back by Lee Hodson but this time Aitken was not interested. Kranjcar spent the first half with his hands tucked into his sleeves. But the former Croatia international almost provided another spark on 27 minutes as he rattled the crossbar following Andy Halliday's driving run. However, it took 10 minutes into the second half for the Glasgow giants to put daylight between themselves and their opponents - but to no surprise Kranjcar was involved again. The former Tottenham star flicked on a Hodson cross for Cummings, who failed to get a proper connection as he attempted a wild swipe but still managed to knock it on for Windass, who calmly dispatched home his second. And the Englishman claimed the match ball midway through the second half as he drove in from the left before drilling past Tait at the near post. Johnston had only been on the pitch a matter of moments when he got his marching orders in the 85th minute, following a crude lunge on Joe Dodoo.
|
RAN
