James Tavernier celebratesImage source, SNS
Image caption,

James Tavernier netted a second-half penalty for Rangers

Much-changed Rangers delivered an unconvincing performance as they beat League 1 Alloa Athletic to reach the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup, where they will face either Livingston or Hibernian at Ibrox.

Head coach Russell Martin made 10 changes from the side beaten 2-1 by Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday, with only centre-back Nasser Djiga keeping his place.

They started brightly in front of their own fans, with debutant Mikey Moore lively down the left flank, and took the lead through a superb strike from Nedim Bajrami that found the top corner via the crossbar.

However, Rangers' defensive frailties shone through again as Alloa found a shock equaliser.

The hosts gave possession away in their own half and although Joe Rothwell blocked Luke Rankin's initial effort, the Rangers midfielder inadvertently scored into his own goal as the ball pinged around the six-yard box.

Martin's team have now conceded in five of their seven matches this season.

They retook the lead before half-time as Emmanuel Fernandez powered a header in from Rothwell's free-kick for a goal on his debut.

The hosts continued to push forward after the break, but it took a contentious penalty for Rangers to find their third.

VAR Greg Aitken advised referee Dan McFarlane to go to the pitchside monitor after Alloa's Cammy O'Donnell handled in the box in a 50-50 with Oscar Cortes.

McFarlane awarded the spot-kick and substitute James Tavernier duly converted to put Rangers two goals to the good.

Alloa continued to push, though, and veteran striker Conor Sammon caused plenty of issues for the Rangers backline having been introduced off the bench.

And they set up a nervy ending at Ibrox when Scott Taggart tapped home after Danny Devine's header came out off the crossbar.

Andy Graham's side were unable to find another equaliser, though, and Findlay Curtis sealed Rangers' spot in the last eight with a precise right-footed finish late on.

Player of the match

Number: 7 A. Clarke
Average rating 9.14
Number: 47 M. Moore
Average Rating: 5.34
Number: 14 N. Bajrami
Average Rating: 4.77
Number: 2 J. Tavernier
Average Rating: 4.61
Number: 37 E. Fernandez
Average Rating: 4.43
Number: 31 L. Kelly
Average Rating: 4.22
Number: 52 F. Curtis
Average Rating: 4.04
Number: 24 N. Djiga
Average Rating: 4.04
Number: 7 Ó. Cortés
Average Rating: 3.74
Number: 11 T. Aasgaard
Average Rating: 3.73
Number: 99 Danilo
Average Rating: 3.70
Number: 6 J. Rothwell
Average Rating: 3.58
Number: 49 B. Rice
Average Rating: 3.46
Number: 8 C. Barron
Average Rating: 3.34
Number: 29 H. Igamane
Average Rating: 3.30
Number: 20 K. Dowell
Average Rating: 3.29
Number: 3 M. Aarons
Average Rating: 3.11

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.