Gerrard sets out to end
RANGERS 4 AYR UTD 0 Light Blues make light work of Ayr but attention now turns to last-four showdown
HAMPDEN has been the scene of several horror stories for Rangers in recent seasons. Now Steven Gerrard will hope it is his field of dreams as he bids for Betfred Cup glory.
Trips to the National Stadium have been made in hope rather than expectation by the Light Blue legions and the journeys home have been some of the most painful they have endured as semifinals have been lost and medals missed out on.
Putting some silverware back into the Ibrox trophy cabinet this term was one of the objectives that Gerrard would have identified when he was appointed as boss in the summer.
And the Englishman is now just 90 minutes away from his first final as a manager after a routine lasteight win over Championship high-flyers Ayr United.
Glenn Middleton netted either side of half-time, while Nikola Katic and Alfredo Morelos were also on target to earn a much-changed Gers side a place in the last four.
But the victory came at a cost for Gerrard after striker Morelos was ruled out of the semi-final showdown. A booking for dissent in the first half means the Colombian, cautioned in the win against Kilmarnock in the previous round, will have to watch from the sidelines at Hampden next month.
With Kyle Lafferty cup-tied after turning out for Hearts earlier in the competition and Umar Sadiq not worthy of a place in the squad here, Gerrard now faces a real selection dilemma ahead of the semi showdown.
The Ibrox boss will have to cross that bridge when he comes to it. The most important factor was ensuring his side avoided becoming the story of the quarter-finals.
Gerrard took the change of competition, and lower level
‘‘ It was a moment that clearly meant a lot to the 18-year-old
of opposition, as a chance to rotate his team after a hectic opening few weeks to the campaign at home and abroad.
Wes Foderingham started between the sticks and there were also jerseys for Andy Halliday, Joe Worrall, Graham Dorrans, Ovie Ejaria and Middleton in an unfamiliar Light Blue line-up. It was an opportunity for some to stake a claim, while others were able to get crucial match minutes. For Gerrard, it was a sign of the depth he now has in his ranks after another overhaul in the transfer market this summer.
The task of forcing their way into a starting berth is tougher for the likes of Foderingham given the fine form of Allan McGregor so far this term. The Englishman finds himself as second choice at Ibrox these days but stressed pre-match that he will continue to apply himself and push for a recall.
After just 10 minutes, he was called into action for the first time. It had been a low-key start to the evening for Rangers as Ayr looked to get on the front foot and it was the visitors who came closest in the opening stages.
A corner from the left was only half cleared and the ball fell to Robbie Crawford at the edge of the area. His shot was well struck but Foderingham was equal to it as he tipped the effort over the bar.
That was as close as McCall’s side would come before their resistance, and the deadlock, was broken. From then, there was no way back for Ayr.
Having seen a couple of moves from short corners fail to come to anything, Ryan Kent whipped a cross in from the right and Katic rose well