#East Fife 0-3 Rangers: Visitors cruise into Scottish League Cup quarter-finals

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East Fife 0-3 Rangers: Visitors cruise into Scottish League Cup quarter-finals

For Rangers, a stormy afternoon on the Fife coast was the equivalent of some rest before an impending storm of greater challenges.

A routine progress to the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup yielded positive results through three goals and three debut. After making no fewer than 10 changes to his basic line-up, Steven Gerrard & # 39; s side did not have to shine in overcoming League One opposition.

Yet the work was still done with only the shortest tips of drama. And for Filip Helander it became an occasion that he will remember with affection, even after it has long since disappeared from the memories of more passive observers.

Jermain Defoe celebrates after giving Rangers the lead against East Fife

Defoe ended well after he first half in the goal was played by Filip Helander

The center of Sweden is with 3 million the most expensive of all of Gerrard ten summer additions. The Ibrox manager believes that spending can be a defensive bargain, but it was the most progressive aspects of his game that marked the first competitive appearance of Helander in a light blue shirt.

An assist for the first half of Jermain Defoe opener was followed by a header that hit the net through net East Fife counterpart Ross Dunlop. You can be sure that Helander will try to claim a debut strike instead of being registered as his own goal.

Andy King and Brandon Barker both appeared from the couch to make their arches during the second period, giving Gerrard a few minutes in legs for a hefty fourteen days of competitions.

From the picturesque surroundings of Bayview, all overlooking the beach, solar panels and three empty sides, Rangers enter the heat of Thursday night's hostile road from them. Play-off Europa League against Legia Warsaw

After a short Premiership trip to St Mirren and the return match against Legia for a long-awaited first match of the season on 1 September. and Rangers have the right to enter the international break bouyant with conviction. More meaningful decisions can be made on that point.

As it is, Gerrard & # 39; s side has already scored 30 goals this time – with Joe Aribo scoring the third here – and are now up to five straight wins.

Helander doubles his side up close after being excavated by Jordan Jones

East Fife defeated Dundee United and pulled with Hearts to get out of their group and stand on their credit card, just refused to roll. With the exception of the first half chance, however, part-timers Darren Young never threatened what would have been a seismic shock.

Gerrard & # 39; s wholesale rotation did not leave Glen Kamara as the only starter to be taken over from the 3-1 Europa League qualifying win over Midtjylland FC last Thursday night

A look at the substitutes further emphasized the current size of the Ibrox team. Niko Katic was the only one among them who had also been shown last Thursday evening.

Katic was accompanied there by fellow countryman Borna Barisic. When the Croatian left back is not used in Bayview – because he was omitted for both legs against Midtjylland – this suggests that his attempts to gain Gerrard's confidence have certainly fallen flat.

As it was, the selection review led to an incoherent opening. On a plastic field that was raining from black pellets, Gerrard's guitar picks were slowly thrown into finding fluency.

They found that Referee Don Robertson should have helped to reduce early tension. Jordan Jones shot past Stewart Murdoch and fell over when the full back scrambled back at him on the sidelines. The winger appealed for a penalty, as did Captain-for-the-day Andy Halliday as he rushed to his mind. Robertson, however, was unmoved by the chorus when he declared a goal kick.

A number of decent actions then led Defoe to near-thump had been saved by Jordan Fife goalkeeper Jordan Hart, who has ambitions to pursue an alternative career in politics.

Gerrard, however, was irritated by some of the field policies that his players took on – particularly in a 15-minute series that almost froze East Fife's lead.

Not for the first time Kamara gave up the ball with a loose pass. The host grabbed the gift and grabbed the ball forward so that Liam Watt could cross from the left.

Halliday was sucked in, giving the upcoming Aaron Dunsmore the chance to make contact with the far post. Fortunately for his colleagues in the field, Wes Foderingham was alert and blocked from close by.

Relieved by that delay, Rangers knew they had to try to make their quality count. And it was exactly along such a & # 39; n route that a breakthrough of 26 minutes was ensured.

Helander stepped back from the middle before firing a nice pass to Defoe. The real touch of class, however, was the agility of the 36-year-old's turn. Defoe turned on his right and eliminated toiling Dunlop and Chris Higgins markers. Once in the area, he coolly stroked the ball past Hart.

Defoe & # 39; s sixth goal of the season was almost followed by a seventh eight minutes later. This time, Halliday kept alive the danger of a half-cleared Jones-cross with a header that landed at his feet. The strike was almost immediate and seemed to be hit by Hart, although it was awarded in the corner.

A former Celtic youth, Hart cannot be accused of lack of personality . Barked defense instructions led to one vocal criticism within the Rangers support to insist on silence, because he bluntly & # 39; s *** e & # 39; used to be. & # 39; I know, & # 39; Hart shot back and drew an appreciative smile from his former torturers.

The 23-year-old was called to more meaningful action a minute later in the second period. Hart smuggled the danger away when Aribo, who had offered the most creative touches of an Ibrox midfielder, tried to turn in a Jones corner near the nearby post. And the men from Gerrard were quickly back on the front foot to reach that goal.

Greg Docherty chose Defoe for a new exhibition of fast-moving footwork. This time, however, the Bournemouth borrower hit too little room before he found the net with his shot.

The result was only postponed to the 56th minute. Dunlop was booked to retrieve Defoe after he was brought under control again by the striker. But his misery did not end there.

Stewart gave the deep free kick with Jones towards the goal. Helander stepped in to repent and his header repelled Dunlop to cross the line.

That was the signal for Gerrard to hand out two more debutions. Docherty and Stewart were withdrawn just before the hour to allow King and Barker's introductions. Barker's corner forced a flap from Hart and the former Charlton man finally put the ball in the net for his fourth goal in eight appearances.

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#East Fife 0-3 Rangers: Visitors cruise into Scottish League Cup quarter-finals"

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