Aaron Ramsey says he is enjoying the pressure of being at Rangers as he made his first start in Rangers’ Scottish Cup last-16 win over Annan Athletic.
Polish full-back Mateusz Zukowski also made his debut as goals from Filip Helander, Fashion Sakala and Kemar Roofe established a 3-0 half-time lead.
Sakala and Roofe had more chances, but the Scottish champions did not add to their tally at the League 2 hosts.
“I’m really excited to be a part of this now,” Juventus loanee Ramsey said.
“Coming to a massive club like this, there’s always pressure to win and I like that – and hopefully we can have a successful season together.
“It’s my first start in a long time, so obviously I’m going to be rusty, but glad I got the minutes in my legs. I’m feeling good, I’m building on everything every week by week and hopefully I can start more regularly. I’m just happy to be here and enjoying my football again.”
Rangers will find out who they face in the last eight when the draw takes place on Monday after Peterhead play Dundee.
Wales midfielder Ramsey and fellow January signing Zukowski were among 11 changes as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side swept ahead early.
Helander, moments after having a header cleared off the line, directed the resulting corner into the net to open the scoring early in his first appearance after five months out injured.
Ramsey lifted a shot over the bar when left unmarked in the box, but soon it was 2-0 when, from a similar position, Roofe turned and fired low into the corner.
It was three when Sakala’s cross-come-shot from wide on the left powered past goalkeeper Greg Fleming and nestled in the far corner.
The second half was all about damage limitation for Annan and they made a good job of it.
Sakala almost made it four when he went on a winding run before hitting the top of the crossbar.
Zukowski showed his attacking prowess with a jinking run to the byline that finished with Roofe heading wide from five yards.
Charlie McCann was given his debut from the bench and the 19-year-old midfielder slalomed through the Annan defence but couldn’t direct his shot past Fleming.
Man of the match – Fashion Sakala
What did they say?
Annan Athletic manager Peter Murphy: “It’s a loss. The first 20 minutes of the game I don’t think my players showed up well enough. I think we got caught out like rabbits in the headlights.
“We settled down, but the damage was done. In the second half, I asked them to go out, pass the ball around the enjoy the occasion and they did that. I said earlier in the week if Ranges didn’t win by four or five they’ve failed, so hopefully Rangers have failed and we’ve got some plaudits out of it.”
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst: “We decided the match in the first half. I’m happy with the result and all the players who got minutes today. We’re into the next round and have got no injuries, so it’s a good day for us.
“I’m happy to Aaron Ramsey to get an hour under his belt and also Filip Helander and Steven Davis.”
Player of the match
HelanderFilip Helander
Annan Athletic
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Squad number7Player nameWallaceAverage rating
6.04
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Squad number10Player nameAndersonAverage rating
6.03
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Squad number8Player nameDocherty
Average rating6.01
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Squad number11Player nameJohnston
Average rating5.98
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Squad number9Player nameSmith
Average rating5.96
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Squad number5Player nameDouglas
Average rating5.93
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Squad number4Player nameMoxon
Average rating5.91
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Squad number1Player nameFleming
Average rating5.90
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Squad number2Player nameBarnes
Average rating5.90
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Squad number6Player nameClark
Average rating5.89
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Squad number3Player nameLowdon
Average rating5.87
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Squad number14Player nameFleming
Average rating5.80
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Squad number16Player nameSwinglehurst
Average rating5.78
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Squad number15Player nameHunter
Average rating5.75
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Squad number17Player nameGoss
Average rating5.64
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Squad number20Player nameGarrity
Average rating5.54
Rangers
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Squad number5Player nameHelander
Average rating7.26
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Squad number51Player nameLowry
Average rating7.09
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Squad number43Player nameKing
Average rating7.07
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Squad number30Player nameSakala
Average rating6.74
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Squad number25Player nameRoofe
Average rating6.68
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Squad number10Player nameDavis
Average rating6.67
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Squad number16Player nameRamsey
Average rating6.55
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Squad number9Player nameDiallo
Average rating6.54
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Squad number15Player nameSimpson
Average rating6.50
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Squad number22Player nameZukowski
Average rating6.44
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Squad number33Player nameMcLaughlin
Average rating6.39
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Squad number23Player nameWright
Average rating6.36
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Squad number42Player nameMcCann
Average rating6.30
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Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Average rating6.29
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Squad number19Player nameSands
Average rating6.27
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Squad number11Player nameItten
Average rating6.09
Line-ups
Annan Athletic
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Fleming
- 2Barnes
- 5Douglas
- 6ClarkBooked at 28mins
- 3LowdonSubstituted forSwinglehurstat 74′minutes
- 11JohnstonSubstituted forGossat 82′minutes
- 8DochertySubstituted forHunterat 75′minutes
- 4Moxon
- 7WallaceSubstituted forFlemingat 74′minutes
- 10AndersonSubstituted forGarrityat 64′minutes
- 9Smith
Substitutes
- 12Adamson
- 14Fleming
- 15Hunter
- 16Swinglehurst
- 17Goss
- 18McCartney
- 19Steele
- 20Garrity
- 21Murphy
- 22McMenamin
- 25Connolly
Rangers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 33McLaughlin
- 22Zukowski
- 19Sands
- 5HelanderSubstituted forLowryat 61′minutes
- 31Barisic
- 9DialloSubstituted forMcCannat 70′minutesBooked at 89mins
- 10DavisSubstituted forKingat 61′minutes
- 23Wright
- 16RamseySubstituted forSimpsonat 61′minutes
- 30SakalaSubstituted forIttenat 70′minutes
- 25Roofe
Substitutes
- 2Tavernier
- 3Bassey
- 11Itten
- 15Simpson
- 18Kamara
- 28McCrorie
- 42McCann
- 43King
- 51Lowry
- Referee:
- Alan Muir
- Attendance:
- 2,500
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Annan Athletic 0, Rangers 3.
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Second Half ends, Annan Athletic 0, Rangers 3.
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Alexander Lowry (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Owen Moxon (Annan Athletic).
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Attempt missed. Cedric Itten (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Attempt saved. Owen Moxon (Annan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Charlie McCann (Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Charlie McCann (Rangers).
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Aidan Smith (Annan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Michael Garrity (Annan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
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Foul by James Sands (Rangers).
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Aidan Smith (Annan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Charlie McCann (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Owen Moxon.
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Attempt missed. Scott Wright (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
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Substitution, Annan Athletic. Tommy Goss replaces Chris Johnston.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Lewis Hunter.
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Foul by James Sands (Rangers).
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Owen Moxon (Annan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick.