Rangers3
Airdrie0
Jon Daly’s blistering goal-scoring form continued as he bagged a double to help send Rangers into the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup with a 3-0 win over Airdrie at Ibrox last night.
After a goalless first half, Rangers opened the scoring just three minutes after the restart. Attempts by the Airdrie defence to clear a Peralta ball into the box fell as far as Daly who unleashed into the far bottom corner.
The Irishman struck again four minutes later. This time, he threw himself in front of Richard Foster’s cross and left Bullock with no chance with the header.
There was controversy after 64 minutes when Darren McCormack smothered the ball with his body in the area and referee John Beaton awarded an indirect free kick despite claims for a penalty.
McCulloch’s shot from next to the penalty spot then failed to make it past the wall of Airdrie players strung across the goal.
Seconds later, Daly was denied his hat-trick when his shot was hooked off the line, as Rangers pressed for more goals.
The home side made two changes in quick succession, with Lewis Macleod replaced by Templeton, before Clark made way for Andy Little. And Templeton put the tie beyond Airdrie with 10 minutes to go when he met Nicky Law’s cut-back 15 yards out and stroked home goal number three for Rangers.
This win may have been less convincing than the 6-0 thrashing Rangers claimed away from home the last time the sides met in August. But the victory provided their second cup success in less than a week after booking their place in the Ramsdens Cup final by dumping Stenhousemuir on Tuesday.