Greenock Morton 0-4 Rangers

Rangers stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Championship to nine points with a comprehensive victory over Morton.

Martyn Waghorn hit a first-half double, the first from the penalty spot and the second after a neat turn and shot inside the box.

James Tavernier added a third when he finished a fine counter-attacking move.

Waghorn shot high into the net to complete his hat-trick, while Dean Shiels shot against a post late on.

The sides had contrasting fortunes in the League Cup in midweek, with Rangers' 100% start to the season ended by St Johnstone.

Morton were buoyed by an extra-time win over Premiership side Motherwell, but they were behind early when Nathan Oduwa was felled in the box by Ross Forbes after jinking in from the right, and Waghorn rolled the resultant penalty into the corner.

Alex Samuel, who scored twice for Morton in midweek, fired low at goal after an enterprising run, but the home side were soon further behind.

Barrie McKay picked Waghorn out in the box, and he was allowed the time to turn the ball onto his left foot before firing into the net.

The goals only increased the pace of the game; Morton determined to hit back while Rangers were taking advantage of the space being offered to them.

Nathan Oduwa won a penalty for Rangers after Ross Forbes' challenge

McKay could have made it three when Oduwa sent a ball across goal, but it bounced awkwardly and beyond him.

Morton's Ross Forbes curled a free-kick the wrong side of a post, but another of his set-pieces led to Rangers' third.

A short free-kick was cleared by Tavernier, who raced the length of the pitch while his team-mates moved the ball swiftly from back to front, before striding into the box to finish a polished move.

Morton would not give up, but squandered two good chances within a minute of each other.

Bobby Barr cut inside from the left but could not get enough purchase on his shot, before Samuel looked to have the beating of Rob Kiernan but sliced his shot wide.

Waghorn should have had his hat-trick before half-time, when Conor Pepper's clearance cannoned off Oduwa and into his path, but he shot straight at Derek Gaston.

The end-to-end action continued and Wes Foderingham's double save denied Michael Tidser then Denny Johnstone.

Johnstone threatened again with a ball across the face of the goal that evaded Samuel, while Barr should have done better when given a sight of goal shortly afterwards.

Kenny Miller forced a save from Gaston and Andy Halliday fired over as both teams improved defensively, at the cost of the open attacking game witnessed in the first half.

Waghorn, though, would not be denied his hat-trick. Tavernier's cross was met by the head of a Morton defender, but it fell kindly in front of goal for the 25-year-old, who fired into the roof of the net.

Shiels struck a post from distance before Lee Wallace fired wide as Rangers pressed for a fifth late on.