Rangers 5 Dunfermline 0

Friday, 13th Aug 2021

Premier Sports Cup Second Round: Pybus and Wighton start in place of Thomas and Cole. John Lundstram (3) 1-0: Scott Wright (17) 2-0: Ianis Hagi (19) 3-0: Kemar Roofe (33) 4-0: Roofe (58 pen.) 5-0:

Dunfermline crashed out of the League Cup as Rangers rocked them with a 5-0 defeat that had the 41000 home fans singing the blues from the third minute.

The Premier Sports Cup took Dunfermline to Ibrox for just the second match there in seven years. The draw had handed the Fifers the toughest draw of the Second Round and hopes of any joy from the match against the Scottish champions were only raised by the home side’s defeat in the three matches ahead of this cup tie.

Peter Grant named a starting eleven that showed two changes from that which started against Partick Thistle, Dan Pybus and Craig Wighton being preferred to Dom Thomas and Reece Cole.

Steven Gerrard had a much changed side from that which lost in Champions League qualifier against Malmö with only three survivors in what was still a strong starting eleven. Connor Goldson, Scott Wright and Joe Aribo held their places while Kemar Roofe and Glen Kamara returned from suspension. The Gers manager’s stated hope was to give their fans something to shout about and their aim was to put in a strong performance throughout the 90 minutes.

The teams walked out through the late evening sunshine and lined up on either side of the sponsors arch. The din was certainly the greatest any Pars player or fan had heard for some considerable time, could Friday 13th be a lucky one for Dunfermline?

Rangers kicked off and retained possession for most of the time up until a wayward clearance by skipper Graham Dorrans back into the right side of his own penalty box, set up a cross from Calvin Bassey that John LUNDSTRAM hammered home off the crossbar from the centre of the box. The goal right on the two minute mark made it 1-0.

A Nathan Patterson cross escaped through the six yard box before Ianis Hagi delivered a 12th minute corner from the left that Wighton barely connected with and had the crowd gasping. A pacy Kevin O’Hara break was well defended by Goldson and then in 16 minutes a Josh Edwards tackle played O’Hara in for the Pars first attempt on the night but his effort from the edge of the box was blocked.

The home side doubled their lead in 17 minutes HAIG’s low pass sent in Scott WRIGHT who had Aaron Comrie turning one way and then another. The Gers no.23 smashed the ball past Deniz Mehmet.

Another Rangers goal followed two minutes later when another Bassey cross was met by HAGI at the far post. 3-0

Roofe tried to get in on the act curling a shot from 25 yards narrowly wide right and then Lundstram set up Patterson but Mehmet pulled off a great stop to keep him out. Comrie got away with a challenge on Wright on the left side of the box but Rangers continued to exert al the pressure.

Lundstram sent Patterson away down the left but fortunately his 31st minute cross went out as it was delivered. Goal number four came from great skill from Kemar ROOFE taking the chance after a clever flick on from a Kamara pass by Aribo, to smash the ball past Mehmet in 33 minutes. 4-0

Rangers immediately threatened again with Aribo sending Bassey deep down the left but Edwards was able to keep out Hagi. It has been a first 45 minutes totally dominated by the Scottish champions but a free kick in added time gave the Fifers a good chance but when Edwards sent the ball in from the right byeline, Wighton stepped over the cross and it was Goldson who connected and cleared with the last touch of the half.

Half time: Rangers 4 Dunfermline 0

Peter Grant made two changes before the second half kicked off with Dom Thomas and Ryan Dow going on in place of Kevin O’Hara and Kyle Macdonald as the formation changed to 4-4-2.

The half certainly started better for the visitors and it was the tenth minute of the half before Rangers forced a corner and Hagi flashed the ball across the Pars six yard box after Dorrans initial clearance had Thomas surrounded by blue jerseys.

Reece Cole came on for Craig Wighton in 56 minutes but within two minutes ROOFE scored from the penalty spot after Dorrans was deemed to have cut him down in the box and it was 5-0.

Rangers withdrew Scott Wright in 64 minutes only to introduce Alfredo Morelos and Mehmet was at full stretch to keep out the striker’s first effort three minutes later.

Scott Arfield was also introduced and with nine outfield men back at times Dunfermline had more success in defence surviving another couple of Patterson corners and an Aribo cross. Stephen Kelly subbed Glen Kamara with eleven minutes remaining and his task was to send in a corner from the right. Jack Simpson rose above everyone but fortunately his header went wide.

Kelly had another two corners from the right and in 84 minutes Simpson headed another over the bar. Next Morelos blazed in a shot from a Kelly pass that was deflected behind and another corner was successfully defended.

Rangers Man of the Match was named as Calvin Bassey and there was no argument about that since he had been the thorn in the Fifers flesh throughout the game.

The tie had been won long before Willie Collum brought proceedings to a close. The Pars second half performance was much better and went some way to prevent a total Teddy Bear’s picnic.

RANGERS: Jon McLaughlin: Nathan Patterson, Connor Goldson (c), James Simpson, Calvin Bassey, Glen Kamara (Stephen Kelly 79), John Lundstram, Joe Aribo, Scott Wright (Alfredo Morelos 64), Ianis Hagi (Scott Arfield 71), Kemar Roofe.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Kent, Borna Barisic, James Tavernier, Felip Helander, Cedric Itten, Robbie McCrorie (GK).
SCORERS: Lundstram (3), Wright (17), Hagi (19), Roofe (33, 58 pen.)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Ross Graham: Kyle Macdonald (Ryan Dow HT), Dan Pybus, Graham Dorrans (c), Josh Edwards: Craig Wighton (Reece Cole 56): Kevin O’Hara (Dom Thomas HT), Nikolay Todorov.
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys Breen, Vytas Gašpuitis, Paul Allan, Leon Jones, Matty Todd, Owain Fôn Williams: (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Dow (67), Watson (85), Pybus (88)

REFEREE: Willie Collum
WEATHER: Sunny 17°C
ATTENDANCE 41467

NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (away) v Raith Rovers on Friday 20th August 2021, 7.45pm kick off at Stark’s Park

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Preview Rangers

Friday, 13th Aug 2021

Premier Sports Cup (away) v Rangers, Friday 13th August 2021, kick off 7.30pm at Ibrox

Dunfermline travel to Ibrox on Friday night hoping to make it four consecutive defeats for Rangers for the first time since October 1985 and register the Fifers first win there since 1972. Quite a challenge!

The Premier Sports Cup match at Ibrox on Friday will be the eighteenth League Cup match between the sides and the fourteenth time that the sides have been paired from the draw.

In the previous League Cup meetings Rangers have won 15, drawn one and lost one.

Milestones v Rangers (away)

Last Victory | 27/04/72 | 4-3| Div One*
Last Defeat | 09/08/17 | 0-6 | Betfred Cup
Best Victory | 27/04/72 | 4-3| Div One*
Worst Defeat | 22/12/34 | 1-8 | Div One*
Last Goalless Draw | 28/10/67 | 0-0 | Div One*
First Meeting | 17/08/26 | 0-2 | Div One*
*pre-reconstruction

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
09/08/17 R2 A 0-6

Recent Form

Rangers had hoped to bounce back from their first back to back defeats since March 2020 in Tuesday night’s Champions League Qualifier versus Malmö but the Swedes had other thoughts. Despite playing the whole second half with just ten men Malmö won 2-1 at Ibrox.

Dunfermline’s league season has seen a 2-2 draw at Morton and a 3-0 defeat at home to Partick Thistle. Their cup form is better having won three and lost 1-0 (away to St Mirren).

Last six matches

DUNFERMLINE
Partick Thistle (H) L 0-3
Morton (A) D 2-2
Stenhousemuir (H) W 4-1
Dumbarton (H) W 5-1
St Mirren (A) L 0-1
Partick Thistle (A) W 4-2

RANGERS
Malmö (H) L 1-2
Dundee United (A) L 0-1
Malmö (A) L 1-2
Livingston (H) W 3-0
Aberdeen (H) W 4-0
Livingston (A) W 3-0

League Cup History v Rangers

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 at 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 latter 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 in 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 faired better with CIS as sponsors. They played well at Ibrox in October 1999 and 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
Wednesday 9th August 2017
Rangers 6 Dunfermline 0

In fifth minute Kenny MILLER smashed his shot into the roof of the net. 1-0

Rangers scored a second just four minutes later after 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

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.

From a free kick 25 yards out, Daniel CANDEIAS dispatched the ball into the Dunfermline net. 5-0 and 57 minutes on the clock.

With quarter of an hour remaining, 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

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).

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)

Last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Partick Thistle): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie (Dan Pybus 82), Paul Watson, Ross Graham: Kyle Macdonald, Graham Dorrans, Dom Thomas (c) (Craig Wighton HT), Josh Edwards: Reece Cole (Ryan Dow 82): Kevin O’Hara, Nikolay Todorov.
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys Breen, Vytas Gašpuitis, Paul Allan, Owain Fôn Williams: (GK)

RANGERS (v Malmö): Allan McGregor, James Tavernier, Leon Balogun, Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic, Steven Davis, Joe Aribo, Scott Arfield (Ianis Hagi 70), Scott Wright (Fashion Sakala 62), Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos.
SUBS NOT USED: Calvin Bassey, John Lundstram, Felix Helander, Cedric Itten, James Simpson, Callum Patterson, Stephen Kelly, Jay Hogarth (GK), Robbie McCrorie (GK).

The referee will be Willie Collum.

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