Teenager Alex Lowry scored on his debut as Rangers saw off Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup fourth round.
The 18-year-old had come on as an early substitute for the injured Ianis Hagi and soon slotted in the opener.
James Tavernier scored a penalty then had another saved by Blair Currie before the break.
Cedric Itten notched his first Rangers goal since returning from a loan spell with Greuther Furth and Fashion Sakala added a late fourth.
The fifth round draw will take place after Saturday’s ties.
The Premiership leaders looked for an early opener when Itten tried to force in a deflected Tavernier cross but Currie blocked, with replays inconclusive as to whether the ball had crossed the goal line.
At the other end, Ray Grant pinched possession for the League 2 side and curved a shot over Jon McLaughlin’s goal.
The impact injury to Hagi had interrupted Rangers’ rhythm but Lowry eased the home crowd’s anxieties when he exchanged passes with Juninho Bacuna and side footed past the static Currie.
Jordan McGregor handled at a corner for Tavernier’s first penalty and Mason Hancock tripped Brandon Barker for the second. Tavernier went to Currie’s right both times, the goalkeeper unable to keep out the first but blocking the second.
John Lundstram played in Itten for Rangers’ third, the Swiss striker firing across Currie from the six-yard line.
Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst had given McLaughlin, Bacuna, Barker and Lundstram rare starts and sent on defender Leon King, 18, in place of Balogun for the final quarter.
McLaughlin palmed away a Dylan Mackin shot in the lead-up to Rangers’ fourth, Sakala escaping in the inside left channel to dispatch into the far corner.
What they said
Rangers midfielder Alex Lowry told Premier Sports: “Dream come true. I’ve been here since I was 10 and scoring today was just a dream. It was brilliant.”
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst told Premier Sports: “I saw many good things today. The main objective is to go to the next round. Overall, we were very decent.
“Happy with the performances of some players. You could see Alex Lowry was really enjoying his football. He’s at a good level already.”
Stirling Albion manager Darren Young told Premier Sports: “We done well, they never game in. We kept at it. It was frustrating to lose the goals the way we did.
“Great fitness level from the boys. Last 10 minutes, they’re still pushing, they’re still chasing, trying to get forward, trying to support, trying to help each other out so it was great to see.”
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-3-3
- 33McLaughlin
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 26BalogunSubstituted forKingat 60′minutes
- 15Simpson
- 7HagiSubstituted forLowryat 15′minutes
- 4Lundstram
- 22Bacuna
- 21BarkerSubstituted forRoofeat 67′minutes
- 11Itten
- 30Sakala
Substitutes
- 3Bassey
- 19Sands
- 23Wright
- 25Roofe
- 28McCrorie
- 42McCann
- 43King
- 51Lowry
Stirling
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Currie
- 2McGeachie
- 5McGregor
- 4Cummins
- 3HancockSubstituted forCreaneyat 86′minutes
- 7MooreSubstituted forBannerat 71′minutes
- 8Roberts
- 6Grant
- 10LeitchBooked at 69mins
- 11Flanagan
- 9FrancisSubstituted forMackinat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 12Carrick
- 14McNiff
- 15Creaney
- 16Heaver
- 17Law
- 19Banner
- 23Mackin
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 37,916
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Rangers 4, Stirling Albion 0.
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Second Half ends, Rangers 4, Stirling Albion 0.
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Attempt saved. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Rangers 4, Stirling Albion 0. Fashion Sakala (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Juninho Bacuna.
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Substitution, Stirling Albion. James Creaney replaces Mason Hancock.
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Attempt saved. Dylan Mackin (Stirling Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Attempt missed. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Adam Cummins.
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Attempt blocked. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Fashion Sakala (Rangers).
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Ross McGeachie (Stirling Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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James Tavernier (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Nathan Flanagan (Stirling Albion).
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Attempt blocked. Juninho Bacuna (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Substitution, Stirling Albion. Dylan Mackin replaces Akeel Francis.
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Attempt missed. John Lundstram (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
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Substitution, Stirling Albion. Kyle Banner replaces Kieran Moore.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Adam Cummins.
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Jack Leitch (Stirling Albion) is shown the yellow card.
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Juninho Bacuna (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
