On Sunday Rangers take a break from the league campaign, travelling to Cliftonville Stadium for the Scottish Cup Quarter Final.

 

Albion Rovers currently sit seventh in Division Two and without taking anything for granted, Rangers surely have an excellent chance to progress to the Semi-final stage. Rovers, having won only two of their last ten league games, will be rank outsiders, but as in just about any cup competition, this is a one-off in which anything can happen.

 

You can see highlights of the previous round's game against Dunfermline,which Ranges won 4-0 courtesy of goals from David Templeton and a hattrick from Dean Shiels, here, together with a match report.

 

 

The game is at Ibrox mate.

So it is.

 

On Sunday Rangers don't travel to Cliftonville Stadium for the Scottish Cup Quarter Final...

Ally McCoist speaking ahead of Saturday's tie at Ibrox:

 

ALLY McCOIST insists he focused only on football as he looks ahead to the club’s Scottish Cup quarter-final tie with Albion Rovers at Ibrox.

Events off the park at Rangers were again on the lips of journalists who attended the manager’s pre-match media briefing at Murray Park this morning.

But as things constantly develop behind the scenes at Ibrox, McCoist is adamant he’s concentrating only on facing the Cliftonhill side and is having no problem in doing so.

He said: “We’ve got a big game on Sunday and all I’ve been focusing on is that. It’s not difficult to do that because we’ve got a job to do.

“It’s a fantastic game to look forward to and it’s a real opportunity, with an incentive of a semi-final which will be played at our stadium.

“That’s what we’re focusing on. It’s what we should be focusing on and what we are focusing on.

“The only thing I have to pay attention to is the football team, matches, games and results. That’s my job as the football manager.

“I think Dave King was quoted as saying the manager was doing the right thing in talking about football.

“So was the chief executive and the board so if all parties involved are happy with me talking about football – which indeed I am – then I’ll continue to do that.

“I’m not saying everything else is secondary but it’ll all look after itself. I’m totally focused on football and I’ll continue to do that.â€

This Sunday’s match with Rovers will be Rangers’ second meeting of the season with them, more than seven months after the first in the Ramsdens Cup.

On that occasion Gers were handsome 4-0 winners as they got their campaign underway with a good win at Livingston’s Energy Assets Arena.

But while he believes his team has got better in the time since, the manager has stressed the same applies to the Coatbridge side.

McCoist added: “We’ve certainly improved. In that particular game against Rovers, we could only play two of the lads we had signed.

“There were rules and regulations regarding that so it was only Nicky (Law) and big Jon (Daly) who came in.

“I’d be hopeful we’ve certainly strengthened in the respect we can play the rest of our lads we have signed too now.

“I would have to hazard a guess and say Rovers look a little bit stronger as well, particularly with some of the results they’ve had in the Cup.

“We certainly won’t underestimate Albion. They had a fantastic result against Motherwell and also beat Stenhousemuir 2-0 at home, something we couldn’t do last time out.

“If you’re looking for warning signs, potential stumbling blocks and hiccups, they’re there and we’ll be guarded against that.

“The opportunity to go through is too important for the team, the club and the fans and we won’t allow any level of complacency at all.â€

Looking forward to it, not expecting a huge crowd as it's being televised on council telly.

A solid 25-30k will be about the attendance.

Come on you Gers!!!

As I was saying about not taking anything for granted...

 

At Ibrox today, Rangers survived against the team of shopworkers, taxmen and all the rest, thanks to a hotly disputed 78th minute goal from Bilel Mohsni. It has to be said that many a referee would have disallowed the goal, in which Mohsni looked to be clearly impeding the goalkeeper. As it is, that refereee John Beaton allowed the goal to stand proved to be Rangers' get out of jail card,

 

Albion Rovers had taken the lead in the 14th minute when Lee McCulloch disastrously headed a corner kick into the danger area, which fell to Ciaran Donnelly who smashed the ball into the back of the net from close range.

 

From what I hear, the replay is set to be played at Hamilton Academicals ground, and so again, Rangers won't be travelling to Cliftonville Stadium.

 

Winners of the replay meet Dundee United in the semi-finals.

Replay date confirmed:

 

RANGERS will face Albion Rovers at New Douglas Park on Monday night in a replay of the Scottish Cup quarter final tie.

 

The fixture will see Rangers play out their fourth match in just nine days after Sunday's draw, Wednesday's match with Airdrieonians and next weekend's visit from Dunfermline.

A shambles of a perfromance yet again from McCoists theam.

Was there at the weekend and the fans are not taking much more of this guff from Ally and his players.

 

I'll be honest I thought Rangers would win it easily

 

Just shows how much I know about football...

Hoping for a straightforward win tomorrow night. Follow Follow.

I'll be honest I thought Rangers would win it easily

 

Just shows how much I know about football...

You're not the only one! Even a draw at Ibrox has to be up there with the biggest shocks of the decade. On to the replay:

 

Ally McCoist Hopeful Of Improvement*

 

ALLY McCOIST admits he’ll settle for the same volume of shooting chances against Albion Rovers tonight as in the first leg because he’d be more hopeful of converting them this time.

Rangers were disappointing as the sides drew 1-1 in their original Scottish Cup quarter-final and they had to come from behind through Bilel Mohsni to force a replay.

They did dominate the fixture though and had lots of possession in their opponents’ half without always prising them open.

Gers are aiming to be more ruthless against James Ward’s side in tonight’s replay at New Douglas Park as they go for a last four spot against Dundee United on April 12.

And the manager is optimistic that if the general approach play from his men is the same, they’ll make up for their missed chances last weekend.

McCoist said: “It is another opportunity for us to get effectively a home tie against Dundee United at Ibrox and what an incentive that is.

“It’s still the same one that was there for us before last week’s game. It’s still the same challenge and opportunity and we have to go and grab it.

“Again, it’ll be hard work and I don’t think James will change much of his team in terms of the shape or the personnel last week.

“He was rightly proud of his players but hopefully we can create a little bit more and we can be a bit more clinical when we do that.

“I’ve got to be careful because I don’t want anybody to think I’m taking my eye off the ball in any way, shape or form. I’m not.

“While it was a disappointing performance last time, we did create an awful lot of chances and on another day we would certainly have added to the goal tally we got.

“I don’t think there’s any way Albion Rovers deserved to beat us last week. They played and defended ever so well but at the very worst we deserved another crack at them and we got it.

“It’s up to us to put the previous tie to bed. We’ll have to work extremely hard but I’ll be honest. If we can create the same number of chances again, I would settle for that.

“I would be hopeful if we did that we’d be more clinical against Albion Rovers this time than we were last Sunday.â€

Rangers have won the League One title since slipping up against tonight’s opponents and recorded wins without conceding against Airdrieonians and Dunfermline.

In that respect, McCoist is confident his players have got their stalemate with Rovers out of their system.

“That’s the hope,†he added. “Throughout the season you’ll get a level of performance where it will dip and rise. That’s a fact.

“Every team will do that. From our point of view, we weren’t at our best against Albion Rovers but hopefully here we will be.â€

 

__________________________________________________

 

*You've got to love my copy and paste skills

Edited March 17, 201412 yr by Tommy Docherty

Albion Rovers 0:2 Rangers

 

If they were fortunate to survive the game at Ibrox, Rangers were rarely troubled in tonight's game at New Douglas Park. Despite a not exactly riveting Rangers performance, if anything the 2-0 scoreline flattered Albion Rovers. Having said that, Albion Rovers can feel justly proud of what they've achieved in this year's cup run.

 

In a game noteable for Calum Gallagher's first start for Rangers, following on from his debut goal at weekend, goals from Fraser Aird and a second half looping header from Jon Daly were enough to see Rangers safely through to the semi-final.

 

And so it's back to Ibrox for the semi-final against Dundee United, and for a change it'll be Rangers' turn to (hopefully) raise their game for the occasion.

And from the official site:

Albion Rovers 0 v 2 Rangers

 

RANGERS have beaten Albion Rovers to progress to the semi-final stage of the Scottish Cup for the first time since 2009.

Goals from Fraser Aird and Jon Daly gave the Light Blues the victory they needed to keep their Cup, and treble, dreams alive and they will now face Dundee United at Ibrox on April 12 with the winner of that going through to the final at Parkhead in May.

It was Aird who opened the scoring in the 17th minute of tonight’s last eight replay at New Douglas Park.

19-year-old Calum Gallagher was a surprise inclusion in Ally McCoist’s starting XI but it was his terrific cross from the right which gave Aird, also 19, the chance to fire his side into a deserved lead.

Rangers then had to wait until the 57th minute before they made it 2-0. Richard Foster’s excellent cross found Daly who produced a trademark header to beat keeper Neil Parry.

The League One champions were not at their best this evening but they did what they had to do on Hamilton Accies’ tricky artificial surface which was watered heavily in the build up to the game.

Gallagher’s 70-minute display would undoubtedly have pleased McCoist as would Kyle Hutton’s performance in the holding midfield role.

Rovers managed to keep it tight in the early stages of the game with Rangers enjoying plenty of possession without really testing Neil Parry.

On 17 minutes however the big keeper was picking the ball out of his net when Aird broke the deadlock.

Gallagher curled in a great cross from the right and Aird did well to get in front of his marker before cushioning the ball home confidently from six yards.

It was a terrific finish from the youngster who clearly enjoyed the moment as he celebrated in front of the travelling Bears.

Rovers now had to respond if they were to stay in the tie and on 25 minutes they had a great opportunity to level the score.

The ball was cut back to lone striker David Crawford in the box but from 15 yards he blasted a powerful shot straight at Cammy Bell who did well to parry it away.

After that scare Rangers came close to doubling their lead. A 30-yard half volley from Mohsni flew past the post before Rovers’ skipper Ciaran Donnelly nearly glanced the ball into the corner of his own net from Ian Black’s free kick.

Aird’s pace and ability to cut inside from the left was causing problems for James Ward’s side and on 35 minutes he did it again when he skipped past Mark McGuigan but his right foot thunderbolt was brilliantly blocked by full back Alan Reid.

Before the half time whistle Foster again did well to use his blistering pace to work an opening. The right back’s cross was dummied by Daly but Gallagher couldn’t get enough purchase on the ball to beat Parry from 15 yards.

After the break Rangers continued to dominate the play and seven minutes after the restart a low, hard cross from Wallace flashed across goal with Daly inches away from making a connection. A corner then came in from the right and Mohsni stooped to head the ball wide of the post.

You felt a goal was coming and on 57 minutes it arrived. Foster’s deep cross was perfect for Daly who headed the ball back across goal and into the net.

With a two-goal cushion in place it was party time for the Gers fans with Rovers now facing a mountain the size of Everest to climb.

Rangers were able to enjoy the last half hour and with 20 minutes remaining Gallagher received a standing ovation from the Gers support having impressed on his first start for the senior side.

Hutton was also taken off with the clock ticking down and having the midfielder fit again is undoubtedly a big boost for the club at this stage of the 2013/14 campaign.

With Seb Faure and Nicky Clark now on Rangers kept pushing for a third goal and although it wasn’t to be the players’ desire to get through to the semis was there for all to see.

On this occasion Rovers were no match for 33-times Cup winners who will no doubt expect a far tougher test when Jackie McNamara’s Tangerines come to Ibrox for a mouthwatering semi-final clash at Ibrox Stadium on April 12.

ALBION ROVERS (4-5-1): Parry; Reid, R. Dunlop, M. Dunlop, Russell;  McGuigan, Chaplain, Donnelly, Cusack (Flood 78) , Phillips (Tiffney 80); Crawford (Walker 60)

SUBS: McGinley, Kennedy, Innes, Maguire

BOOKINGS: Chaplain, Reid, Russell

RANGERS (4-5-1): Bell; Foster, Mohsni, McCulloch, Wallace; Hutton (Faure 80); Gallagher (Clark 70), Black, Law, Aird; Daly

SUBS: Simonsen, Peralta, Crawford, Smith, Shiels

GOALS: Aird 17, Daly 57

BOOKINGS: Hutton

REF: John Beaton

ATT: 5,354
 

Looking foward to April 12; bring it on

Mon the Gers