Annan Athletic 0-3 Rangers: Aaron Ramsey 'happy' with first start in Scottish Cup breeze
- Published
Fashion Sakala (right) scored an audacious third for Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side
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
Rangers' Zambia forward Fashion Sakala was lively throughout and his goal from wide on the left lit up the game
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."
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