Rangers 6 Dunfermline 0
Wednesday, 9th Aug 2017Betfred Cup: Morris, Hopkirk and McManus returned for M`Voto, Aird and Smith. Miller (5) 1-0: Alves (9) 2-0: Morelos (23) 3-0: Tavernier (27) 4-0: Candeias (57) 5-0: Morelos (75) 6-0:
The Second Round of the Betfred Cup drew Dunfermline Athletic away to Rangers. It was the seventeenth time that the clubs had bet in the League Cup and the Fifers only win was the very first encounter in 1951. The Gers like the sight of the Pars in this competition, they have reached the final 10 times in the last 12 seasons that they have met winning the trophy 10 times.
Allan Johnston was able to bring back captain Callum Morris, David Hopkirk and Declan McManus who was in the midst of his two league match suspension. Callum Smith and Jean Yves M`Voto found themselves on the subs bench and Fraser Aird was absent.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha made four changes from the side that defeated Motherwell in their opening Premier League fixtures. In came James Tavernier, Jordan Rossiter and keeper Jak Alnwick in place of Ryan Jack, Lee Hodson, Eduaro Herrera and Wes Foderingham. Just ahead of kick off it was announced that Lee Hodson would start in place of Lee Wallace.
Rangers kicked off with the visitors playing towards the Copeland Road end and it was the Dunfermline keeper Sean Murdoch who was first in action sprinting 35 yards out to meet a weak passback in the third minute.
It took Rangers just two further minutes however before they tested Murdoch again. Morris was robbed of possession by Alfredo Morelos. He travelled into the right byeline before a cut back set up a shot from just twelve yards out that the keeper palmed away. The ball fell to captain Kenny MILLER and he smashed his shot into the roof of the net. 1-0
Rangers had the ball in the net 80 seconds later but this time the offside flag had been raised. But then in ninth minute a tug by Morris on Morelos handed the Ibrox club a free kick on the edge of the penalty box. A cracking effort from Bruno ALVES found the left side of the net. 2-0
Taverier whizzed another good chance narrowly wide left three minutes later and Graham Dorrans next met a Miller cut back to release a powerful effort at goal but Nat Wedderburn came between ball and goal.
McManus got in the Pars first shot of the evening but from 25 yards out there was never enough on it to trouble Alnwick, the tangerine kitted keeper. Then in 18 minutes the visitors forced two corners, one from either side before earning a free kick 24 yards out. McManus chipped the Rangers wall only to see the crossbar keep the ball out.
Lee Ashcroft sustained a cut at the second corner and left the field for treatment leaving Wedderburn patrolling his beat. While down to ten the Pars almost conceded again but Hodson crashed his effort over the bar from the edge of the six yard box.
Then having been restored to 11 aside a break in 23 minutes by Candeias down the right allowed a switch of the ball to MORELOS on the left who finished clinically just inside the left upright. 3-0
Three minutes later TAVERNIER latched on to the ball as the Pars defence appealed for offside and drove the ball into the net for another Rangers goal.
The Pars management team made a tactical substitution in 29 minutes. Jean Yves M`Voto was brought on as the Fifers went to five at the back with Hopkirk being withdrawn in the shake up. The speed of Candeias had created much torment for the visitors and even with the re-inforced defences he again broke in to send the ball wide of Murdoch`s goal. Morris then made a fine tackle on Morelos 15 yards out then minutes later the Pars skipper made a great timely block as Miller positioned himself to try and finish a 42nd minute Morelos lay off from 20 yards.
With 59% possession it had been 45 minutes of total Rangers dominance. Eleven shots to the Pars three and bizarrely three Dunfermline corners to Rangers none.
Half time: Rangers 4 Dunfermline 0
The second half was only 50 seconds old Morelos tested Murdoch and after Rangers forced a 47th minute corner play got well and truly bogged down in the Dunfermline half. Cardle collected a booking when clipping Morelos and then when McManus hit on the break Higginbotham ran out of space on the left as a chance developed.
There was more optimism when Ryan Williamson was able to cut back from the right byeline in 53rd minute but his pass was cut out before it could reach the awaiting Cardle. Back at the other end Alves had another attempt from a free kick on the left 25 yards out but this time he hit a defender and when the ball broke Miller sent it into the sidenetting.
When Morris was penalised for his challenge on Miller, Rangers were given another opportunity from a free kick 25 yards out. This time Daniel CANDEIAS dispatched the ball into the Dunfermline net. 5-0 and 57 minutes on the clock.
Rangers had withdrawn Alves and Miller to introduce Danny Wilson and Bruno Alves before in 62 minutes Dean Shiels replaced Kallum Higginbotham. Canderias sent another pass into the six yard box that M`Voto turned away for a corner on the left. Fortunately Morris headed that clear and Tavernier from 30 yards launched his shot high into the crowd.
At the midpoint of the second half Dorrans ran through the centre, played the ball of Kranjcar on the edge of the area but the defence halted that. Scott Lochhead replaced Joe Cardle and Jason Holt for Rangers instead of Dorrans.
The Pars took the pressure off their defence forcing another two corners but there was to be amendment to the scoreline. There was a long shot from Morris in 74 minutes that made Alnwick clutch the ball as it dropped down on his line.
His opposite number made a good save as Tavernier burst through on to a Kranjcar lay off and the full back fired a strong shot on target. Unluckily for Sean Murdoch the ball spun to his right for Man of the Match, Alfredo MORELOS to stick away his second of the night. 6-0
Eight minutes from time Murdoch saved firstly from Windass and then from Morelos. The Ibrox side dropped the pace but held on to possession to see out the tie and progress to round three.
RANGERS: Jak Alnwick: James Taviernier, Fabio Cardoso, Bruno Alves (Danny Wilson 56), Lee Hodson: Daniel Candeias, Jordan Rossiter, Graham Dorrans (Jason Holt 69), Josh Windass, Kenny Miller (Niko Kranjcar 59), Alfredo Morelas.SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Jack, Ryan Hardie, Wesley Foderingham (GK).
SCORERS: Miller (5), Alves (9), Morelos (23, 75), Tavernier (27), Candeias (57)
YELLOW CARD: Morelos (24), Rossiter (41)
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c) Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham (Dean Shiels, 62), Michael Paton, Nat Wedderburn, Joe Cardle (Scott Lochhead 68): David Hopkirk (Jean Yves M`Voto 29), Declan McManus.
SUBS NOT USED: Callum Smith, Aaron Splaine, Jason Talbot, Cammy Gill (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Cardle (50)
REFEREE: Don Robertson
WEATHER: Sunny 21C
ATTENDANCE 35262
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship: (home) v Inverness Caley Thistle, Staurday 12th August 2017 3.00pm kick off at East End Park
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Allan Johnston post Rangers
Wed, 9th Aug 2017
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Preview Rangers
Wednesday, 9th Aug 2017Betfred Cup: Wednesday 9th August 2017, kick off 7.45pm at Ibrox Stadium
The Betfred Cup match at Ibrox on Wednesday will be the seventeenth League Cup match between the sides and the thirteenth time that the sides have been paired from the draw.
Recent Form
RANGERS
Motherwell (A) W 2-1
P Niedercorn (A) L 0-2
P Niedercorn (H) W 1-0
DUNFERMLINE
Livingston (A) D 1-1
Hearts (A) D 2-2
Peterhead (H) W 5-1
East Fife (A) D 0-0
Elgin City (H) W 6-0
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Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Livingston): Sean Murdoch (c): Ryan Williamson, Jean Yves M`Voto, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Fraser Aird (David Hopkirk 40), Michael Paton, Nat Wedderburn, Joe Cardle: Kallum Higginbotham, Callum Smith (Dean Shiels 65).
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Lochhead, Aaron Splaine, Jason Talbot, Conner Duthie, Cammy Gill (GK)
RANGERS (v Motherwell): Wesley Foderingham: Lee Hodson (James Taviernier 62), Fabio Cardoso, Bruno Alves, Lee Wallace: Daniel Candeias, Ryan Jack, Graham Dorrans, Josh Windass, Kenny Miller (Danny Wilson 77), Eduardo Herrera (Alfredo Morelas 83)
SUBS NOT USED: Dálcio, Jason Holt, Jak Alnwick, Carlos Peña
Referee will be Don Robertson.
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League Cup History
Strangely enough the very first League Cup tie between the two , on 15th September 1951, was probably the biggest match that Dunfermline had ever played in that time and it was certainly the biggest ever at East End Park.
Although Dunfermline had reached the final of the League Cup just two seasons earlier, they had never met either of the Old Firm in the later stages of any competition before. This alone was enough to attract a then record crowd of 19,491 to East End Park and home fans were not disappointed as the Second Division Pars pulled off a famous victory.
In a match in which the Fifers keeper, John Moodie, was outstanding, Gerry Mays scored the only goal of the match for Dunfermline in 69th minute.
Four days later 45,000 turned out for the second leg at Ibrox. It was the biggest crowd that Dunfermline had ever played in front of and that included the League Cup final. Willie Findlay put the home side ahead in 17 minutes only for Wright to equalise nine minutes later.
As Rangers got decidedly jittery Dunfermline were awarded a penalty which Clarkson missed and then to compound matters had a goal chalked off. The visitors knew it was not their day when Gardiner scored a controversial winner from a challenge on the keeper.
Dunfermline next tackled Rangers in season 1964/65 in another quarter final. If Dunfermline fancied their chances it was to no avail with Rangers killing the tie stone dead with a resounding 3-0 first leg win at East End Park on 14th September. Goals came from Ralph Brand, Jim Forrest and an own goal from Jim MacLean.
In the second match at Ibrox, the Pars redeemed themselves as goals from Jackie Sinclair and John McLaughlin gave them 2-1 lead before a late Forrest strike levelled on the night.
By August 1970, the Pars halcyon days were about over. Drawn for the first and only time with Rangers in a sectional group, and without key players who refused to train, Dunfermline lost the match at Ibrox 4-1. But on 22nd August a Willie Johnston hat trick and goals from Jackson, Fyfe and Stein gave Dunfermline a 6-0 thrashing on their own ground.
Dunfermline made the quarter finals of the competition in 1977 and although a Second Division side they did not disgrace themselves losing both legs 3-1.
In 1987 Graeme Souness brought his new look Rangers side to another rejuvenated side, Dunfermline. The Pars were in the Premier League and for the cup tie an all ticket crowd of 18,070 watched Mark Falco and an Ally McCoist hat trick give Rangers a comfortable win.
Two years later on 19th September 1989, Dunfermline reached their first major cup semi final for more than twenty years. The trip to Hampden was a nervy affair and Rangers ran out easy 5-0 winners.
By August 1993, Dunfermline were re-building under Bert Paton. Rangers grabbed two early goals but after that the Pars gave Rangers a run for their money. With Norrie McCathie and Craig Robertson looking strong in defence, and new signing Ivo den Bieman giving Steven Pressley a hard time throughout this match, a little luck might have brought Dunfermline something.
If the 1989 semi final had been a bit of a nightmare, then the 1996 reprise was a lot worse. On 22nd October at a deserted Parkhead (largely due to the presence of TV cameras), Rangers strolled to a 6-1 with Brian Laudrup scoring two.
Having played Rangers under the Skol and Coca Cola banners, Dunfermline fared better with CIS as sponsors. They played well at Ibrox in October 1999and in the end Rangers had to settle for a 1-0 win thanks to Wallace`s 24th minute goal.
Then in the 2002 quarter final Rangers won by a solitary goal and again in controversial circumstances. Referee Dougie McDonald failed to award what tv evidence would later show as a blatant penalty for the Pars. Despite matching Rangers throughout they lost to a late goal from Claudio Caniggia.
In September 2006 Rangers won 2-0 thanks to goals in the last 25 minutes. Alan Hutton`s shot from 16 yards deflected off Sol Bamba to sneak in at the right post that Dorus de Vries had no hope of stopping.
When Allan McGregor`s long clearance landed between Bamba and Kris Boyd, the Rangers striker brushed aside the defender to lash in an unstoppable strike from 25 yards.
Last League Cup Meeting
Ibrox, 21st September 2010
Rangers 7 Dunfermline 2
Jelavic (21) 1-0, Lafferty (23) 2-0, Bougherra (38) 3-0, Woods (41) 3-1. Cardle (46) 3-2, Lafferty (47) 4-2, Jelavic (59) 5-2, Lafferty (71) 6-2, Naismith (77) 7-2.
Steven McDougall and the injured Gary Mason dropped out the Pars team, Nick Phinn and Alex Burke came in for the Co-operative Insurance Cup tie at Ibrox. The home side fielded only four of the team that started in the SPL against Dundee United in their last match. Just Bougherra, Weiss, Jelavic and Davis survived but their new team mates included internationalists Neil Alexander, Steven Naismith, Kirk Broadfoot, Andy Webster and Kyle Lafferty.
Having gone three ahead it looked like Rangers had down it all up by 38th minute but four minutes before the break Calum Woods headed home from a Willie Gibson corner. It was Dunfermline`s first goal at Ibrox since October 2005.
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It looked like the perfect start for Dunfermline when Gibson did really well to skin Broadfoot down in front of the Pars fans in the Govan corner and Joe Cardle headed in a great cross after just 49 seconds of the second half. Unfortunately Rangers restored their two goal advantage just 49 seconds later!
Kyle Lafferty went on to complete his hat trick and the final whistle was a bit of a relief for Jim McIntyre`s side. The Co-operative Insurance Cup holders progressed but on the positive side it had been the first time since December 1987 that the Pars had scored more than one goal against Rangers at Ibrox.
RANGERS: Neil Alexander. Andy Little, Andy Webster (Lee McCulloch 83), Majid Bougherra, Kirk Broadfoot. Steven Davis, Vladimir Weiss, Kyle Hutton, Steven Naismith. Kyle Lafferty, Nikica Jelavic (Gregg Wylde 67)
SUBS: Allan McGregor, Sasa Papac, Kenny Miller.
DUNFERMLINE: Chris Smith. Calum Woods, Andy Dowie, Chris Higgins, Austin McCann (c). Willie Gibson, Steven Bell, Alex Burke, Nick Phinn (Steven McDougall 69) Joe Cardle (Paul Willis 72). Andy Kirk (Pat Clarke 72)
SUBS NOT USED: Alex Keddie, Kyle Allison (GK)
League Cup Matches against Rangers
DATE STAGE VENUE DA R
15/09/51 QF H 1-0
19/09/51 QF A 1-3
14/09/64 QF H 0-3
16/09/64 QF A 2-2
08/08/70 SECTION A 1-1
22/08/70 SECTION H 0-6
09/11/77 QF A 1-3
16/11/77 QF H 1-3
26/08/87 R3 H 1-4
19/09/89 SF N 0-5
24/08/93 R3 H 0-2
22/10/96 SF N 1-6
12/09/99 R3 A 0-1
07/11/02 QF H 0-1
20/09/06 R3 H 0-2
21/09/10 R3 A 2-7
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