Dumbarton 1-4 Rangers: Ibrox side overcome dogged hosts to reach Scottish Cup last 16
- Published
John Lundstram heads home Rangers' opener against Dumbarton.
Rangers overcame dogged League 2 side Dumbarton and stormy conditions to secure their place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.
Goals from John Lundstram and Cyriel Dessers in the first half booked safe passage into the next round.
Matthew Shiels scored a consolation header for Dumbarton, bookended by a second-half James Tavernier penalty and a Scott Wright breakaway goal to guarantee victory,
Rangers gave Scotland squad goalkeeper Robby McCrorie a rare start as they fielded an otherwise strong line-up for the evening kick-off.
In lashing rain under the shadow of Dumbarton Rock, Rangers' front line laboured early on, with Dessers being thwarted by Dumbarton goalkeeper Harry Broun and his own bad luck.
As Dumbarton looked to capitalise on the grim weather conditions, Michael Ruth's point-blank shot from a wicked right-wing cross required a stunning save from McCrorie's face to stop the home side taking a shock lead.
A few minutes later the greasy conditions in the Rangers penalty box had McCrorie scrabbling to get hold of the ball with Ruth and Finlay Gray lurking.
But within moments, Rangers were ahead - Lundstram heading home at the back post from a Souttar flicked-on corner.
Dessers made it two five minutes before half time, getting on the end of a weighted cross into the box from Tavernier and slipping the ball into the net.
Matthew Shiels scores a consolation goal for Dumbarton
As the conditions - and the pitch - continued to deteriorate through the second half, chances became fewer. Dumbarton's back line dug in, defending deeper into their own half and blocking Rangers' route to goal.
Kalvin Orsi offered Dumbarton some creativity down the right flank, while Ryan Blair flashed just wide from a corner.
Dessers made way for new Rangers loan signing Fabio Silva, but the £35m man struggled to make an impact before Rabbi Matondo was felled in the Dumbarton box to land a penalty, duly dispatched by Tavernier.
Shiels rose above the Rangers defence to head home Ryan Wallace's deftly delivered free-kick to give the hosts a brief moment of hope.
But it was snuffed out seconds later after a Rangers breakaway put substitute Scott Wright clean through to slot home beneath Broun.
What they said
Dumbarton manager Stephen Farrell: "I've got to be pleased. I thought we gave a good account of ourselves.
"I'm disappointed at the goals we lost - but I thought in the game we always looked a threat going up the top end of the pitch."
Rangers head coach Philippe Clement: "It's a really important win, we were never in trouble. These are always tricky games on a pitch like this.
"We did the job in a good way. It's now about a good recovery towards Wednesday."