Allan McGregor, Paulo Vanoli, Emerson, Bob Malcolm,
Chris Burke and Egil Ostenstad replacing Stefan Klos,
Maurice Ross, Henning Berg, Michael Ball, Nuno Capucho
and Shota Arveladze. Michael Mols captained the team
for the first time.
The Cup Holders eased into the game without hindrance.
Indeed Emerson might have opened the scoring in seven
minutes when he sliced a Burke corner over the bar.
Three minutes later Michael Mols and Stephen Hughes
combined to create an opening for Ostenstad whose
twenty-yard drive was touched over by Saints
goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert.
Cuthbert again came to his side’s rescue in twelve
minutes, tipping over an angled free-kick from Vanoli.
The opening goal was merely delayed however – and when
it arrived it was a thing of beauty, Burke embarking
on a solo run from some forty yards out before coolly
chipping Cuthbert from just outside the box.
Another mazy run by the twenty-year-old winger ten
minutes later almost produced a second goal, his shot
this time narrowly missing the far post.
It was all one-way traffic – Hughes testing Cuthbert
in 28 minutes with a twenty-five yard shot from an
Ostenstad lay-off.
The game died in the closing stages of the first-half
with the visitors seldom threatening the Light Blues’
lead in front of an official attendance of 29,395 that
appeared to most onlookers to be at least 10,000
understated.
The second goal was a long time coming – as indeed
have been the goals by scorer Ostenstad, this being
just his second in Light Blue, heading home a Vanoli
cross in 58 minutes after the Italian had taken
possession of an Emerson pass.
The Norwegian was replaced by Nuno Capucho in 69
minutes, and in an instant the substitute almost
created Goal Number Three, his opening for Emerson
ending with the Brazilian’s 25-yard drive flashing
just wide of the target.
Saints had seldom tested McGregor (one Brian
McLaughlin effort in 65 minutes had drifted just wide)
– yet former Ranger Peter MacDonald certainly tested
the Ibrox goalkeeper in 73 minutes when his header
from a McLaughlin free-kick was touched wide, thus
denying ‘Peaso’ what would have been a memorable goal.
Rangers were soon back on the attack – within three
minutes Vanoli had seen a twenty-yard free-kick
deflected wide, then a Capucho header from a Burke
cross scraped the wrong side of an upright.
A clever back-heel by Capucho from a Ricksen pass
almost created an opening for Hughes, Cuthbert proving
equal to the task in 82 minutes, then two minutes
later the Portuguese winger’s header from a
Lovenkrands cross again just missed the target.
Chris Burke went off to a standing ovation, being
replaced by Maurice Ross (although many Ibrox patrons
might have wished for the introduction of either Alan
Hutton or Billy Gibson).
The night finished on a high note however when Michael
Mols made it 3-0 with a turn and shot from a Hughes
cutback.
Manager Alex McLeish spoke afterwards about
‘Man-of-the-Match’ Burke:
“He played well, but I stand by my earlier statement
about protecting him. Vanoli also had a sound game
with first-class delivery. He was signed as cover for
Michael Ball. Emerson has shown a terrific attitude in
recent times. Ostenstad was bustling, direct and
lively.”
RANGERS McGregor; Ricksen, Vanoli; Emerson,
Khizanishvili, Malcolm; Burke (Ross 84), Hughes,
Ostenstad (Capucho 69), Mols, Lovenkrands
UNUSED SUBS Hutton, G. Smith, W. Gibson
ST. JOHNSTONE Cuthbert; J. Robertson, Forsyth;
Bernard, Dods, Maxwell; Parker (Paatelainen 71), M.
Robertson (Stevenson 35), MacDonald, Donnelly,
McLaughlin (Malone 89)
UNUSED SUBS Hay, Nelson
REFEREE Dougie McDonald