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Scottish League Cup | Second Round
Aug 18, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
RL

0-3

 
FT(HT: 0-1)
Defoe (26'), Dunlop (56' og.), Aribo (84')

Jermain Defoe scores as Rangers cruise past East Fife

:Headline: Result: Jermain Defoe scores as Rangers cruise past East Fife: ID:368531: from db_amp
Steven Gerrard's side will take on Livingston in the quarter-finals.

Rangers cruised into the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup with a workmanlike 3-0 triumph over East Fife.

The Ladbrokes Premiership side, who will face Livingston in the next round, did not have it all their own way in the first half against the part-timers but broke the deadlock in the 17th minute with an exquisite goal from Jermain Defoe.

Ross Dunlop inadvertently turned the ball in his own net in the 57th minute to double Rangers' lead before Joe Aribo completed the scoring six minutes from time.

It was a satisfactory afternoon for visiting manager Steven Gerrard, who made 10 changes for the trip to Methil ahead of Thursday's Europa League play-off first leg in Poland against Legia Warsaw.

Glen Kamara was the only survivor from the 3-1 victory over Danish side Midtjylland three days earlier.

Despite the scale of the alterations, the Ibrox outfit wasted little time getting into their stride.

There were strong appeals for a penalty inside five minutes when Jordan Jones fell to the ground in the box as he raced clear of Stewart Murdoch but referee Don Robertson was not interested.

Defoe then found space inside the area but his low effort was comfortably saved by Jordan Hart.

After a bright start, however, Rangers went through a period of being careless in possession.

That gave the League One outfit confidence and Darren Young's side created a great chance after 17 minutes.

Liam Watt dug out a cross from the left that was missed by Rangers defender Andy Halliday as he challenged with striker Anton Dowds.

Aaron Dunsmore picked up the loose ball at the back post but goalkeeper Wes Foderingham spread himself well to make the block.

Rangers heaved a collective sigh of relief and stormed ahead six minutes later.

Defoe's sublime first touch took him away from Dunlop and Chris Higgins, having had his back to goal outside the box when he received debutant Filip Helander's pass, and the former England striker coolly placed a low shot past Hart from close range.

Rangers began the second half with designs of creating a two-goal cushion but Hart kept out Aribo's attempt at the near post after the midfielder connected with Jones' corner.

Defoe continued to pose problems inside the box but could only find the side-netting after wriggling free.

The second goal did arrive in the 57th minute courtesy of an own goal from East Fife defender Dunlop.

Jones nodded Greg Stewart's free-kick back across goal and Helander's glancing header struck Dunlop before landing in the net.

Rangers manager Gerrard freshened up his team on the hour mark by handing Brandon Barker and Andy King their debuts from the bench, the pair replacing Stewart and Greg Docherty.

Aribo grabbed the third and final goal six minutes from time, poking home a lose ball in the box after goalkeeper Hart flapped at Barker's corner.

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last updated article - 2019-08-18 19:11:55:
html db last update - 2021-06-06 08:20:49 :

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718
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