Waghorn spares Rangers’ blushes

Rangers ended a tumultuous weekend on a positive note with a 2-1 win over Morton in their William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round clash at Ibrox.

The Govan club was rocked by news of boss Mark Warburton’s resignation late on Friday night, with confusion following when the club statement announcing his departure was reportedly denied by the Englishman.

Under-20s boss Graeme Murty was placed in temporary charge for the visit of the Championship side but the Gers supporters were further stunned when Michael Tidser fired the Greenock men ahead in the seventh minute with a fine volley.

However, Kenny Miller levelled six minutes later and fellow striker Martyn Waghorn scored from close range just after the hour mark.

In the end last season’s beaten finalists emerged triumphant if, again, unconvincing.

Murty made two changes to the side, with midfielder Andy Halliday and Waghorn coming in for Jon Toral and Joe Garner.

Aberdeen loan striker Lawrence Shankland was cup-tied for the visitors but Celtic loan players Jamie Lindsay and Aidan Nesbitt were in the line-up.

It was the latter who was involved in Morton’s early goal when he took advantage of hesitancy in the Gers rearguard to flick the ball on to Tidser, and he sent a perfectly executed volley from the edge of the box low past diving Gers keeper Wes Foderingham.

The home support sat stunned and were showing signs of exasperation until Miller struck.

Gers attacker Barrie McKay slipped past defender Lee Kilday in the Ton penalty area and, when his powerful drive was pushed out by keeper Derek Gaston, the 37-year-old striker returned the ball from the edge of the box past a couple of defenders and into the net with the help of a deflection.

However, there was no flat-out assault on the Morton goal.

Indeed, the home side’s build-up play was ponderous.

Waghorn had a drive slip past the far post after escaping his marker.

But minutes later, after Gaston pushed out an angled shot by Hyndman, who had been played in by Jason Holt, the former Wigan Athletic striker knocked in from a couple of yards out.

Picture: SNS. Martyn Waghorn scores the winner against Morton.