Rangers 5-0 Annan Athletic: How Ibrox outcasts performed in Scottish Cup trouncing as trio of new signings paraded
Rangers advanced to the Scottish Cup fifth round with minimal fuss after routing League two opponents Annan Athletic at Ibrox
A Rangers fringe team strolled into the Scottish Cup fifth round draw as Bojan Miovski notched a hat-trick in a 5-0 trouncing of Annan Athletic at Ibrox tonight.
Head coach Danny Rohl made NINE changes to his starting line-up, handing crucial minutes to several players who has struggled to force their way into the XI of late.
They got off to a far from convincing start against their SPFL League Two opponents, who asked a few questions of the hosts in the early exchanges.
North Macedonian international Miovski drilled past debutant goalkeeper Charlie Albinson to open the scoring after 12 minutes before Kieran Dowell and Findlay Curtis combined to great effect to set up the striker’s headed second.
Midfielder Dowell - one of a handful of fringe men looking to put themselves in the shop window this month - nodded home his first goal for the Govan giants since November 2023 after latching onto Joe Rothwell’s lofted pass.
Miovski then converted a spot-kick and substitute Thelo Aasgaard’s outstanding free-kick wrapped up a convincing victory for the hosts, with exciting 17-year-old prospect Zebedee Lawson showing up well on his senior debut from off the bench in the closing stages.
Prior to kick-off, Rangers’ trio of January signings Tochi Chukwuani, Tuur Rommens and Andreas Skov Olsen - were paraded in front of supporters, but only the former was named in the matchday squad.
Annan’s best opportunity of the match fell to skipper Tommy Muir who attempted to catch Rangers stand-in captain Liam Kelly off-guard with a dipping volley which sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
But Rangers had managed to avoid a potential banana skin and safely book their spot in the next round of the competition on a freezing night full of positives for Rohl.
Here, GlasgowWorld gives our verdict on the futures of several outcasts:
Pass marks for Miovski, Curtis and Dowell
The door has remained ajar for ex-Aberdeen hitman Miovski to prove he can be the dependable goal scorer that Rangers fans are craving and he can be pleased with a terrific treble against the part-terms in what is sure to give him a major confidence boost.
Youngster Findlay Curtis - who has been linked with a loan move to fellow Premiership side Kilmarnock - displayed flashes of real quality to suggest he is deserving of more game time and Kieran Dowell can also be satisfied with his offering.
Quartet fail to deliver as exit door looms
As for the other fringe men Rohl presented with a chance to impress, four of his nine changes did little to suggest they deserve to stick around for much longer. Those in question; Nasser Djiga, Joe Rothwell, Danilo and Clinton Nsiala.
Summer recruit Rothwell was making just his second appearance under Rohl but was very erratic with his passing, while Danilo was totally anonymous for 70 minutes. Wolves loanee Djiga looked disinterested once again and Nsiala was extremely rusty, perhaps due to his lack of minutes this term.
Gassama’s place in XI under serious threat
The former Sheffield Wednesday wide man continues to blow hot and cold and on this evidence he’s going to have to work a lot harder to keep his place in Rohl’s starting line-up going forward now that Skov Olsen is in the door.
At times, Gassama has looked the real deal in Europe, but he has flattered to deceive on the domestic front and this was another one of those laboured performances against an opponent he should’ve torn to shreds.
Rangers player ratings vs Annan Athletic
GK - Liam Kelly (6/10)
RCB - Clinton Nsiala (5/10)
LCB - Nasser Djiga (4/10)
CM - Joe Rothwell (5/10)
CM - Kieran Dowell (7/10)
CAM - Danilo (4/10)
RW- Findlay Curtis (8/10)
LW - Djeidi Gassama (4/10)
CF - Bojan Miovski (8/10)
Subs used: Zebedee Lawson (4/10), Rabbi Matondo (5/10), Thelo Aasgaard (4/10), Tochi Chukwuani (4/10), Mikey Moore (5/10).