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FT: Rangers 5-0 Annan – Miovski deceives keeper with opener before nodding in Curtis cross for brace; Dowell’s lofted header makes it three just after break
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Miovski completes hat-trick from spot; Aasgaard bends in free-kick from distance
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Danny Rohl’s side first side into fifth round
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Listen to Sportsound for reaction
Bojan Miovski scored a hat-trick as a fringe Rangers side breezed past Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox.
Rangers led when Miovski swept past debutant Charlie Albinson following Danilo’s pass and Kieran Dowell and Findlay Curtis, who were two of nine changes for the hosts, combined to set up Miovski’s headed second.
Joe Rothwell, who like Curtis and Dowell has been linked with a January move, chipped for Dowell to nod his first goal of the season.
Miovski converted a penalty and Thelo Aasgaard’s stunning free-kick made it five on a night when home supporters were introduced to January captures Tochi Chukwuani, Tuur Rommens and Andreas Skov Olsen prior to kick-off.
The midfielder’s dead ball strike sailed past Charlie Albinson from around 30 yards in what was a sumptuous effort from the substitute.
It had actually been the League 2 visitors that asked the early questions with Tommy Muir attempting to catch Rangers’ stand-in captain Liam Kelly off guard with a dipping volley over the bar.
However, after the Miovski first-half double, Curtis lobbed on to the crossbar and Miovski was denied by Albinson’s save at close range.
Jayden Meghoma, set to compete with Rommens for the left-back role, did superbly to set up Danilo for a curling shot off target and Curtis came close again before 17-year-old attacker Zebedee Lawson debuted off Rangers’ bench, soon followed by midfielder Chukwuani.
Aasgaard and Rabbi Matondo also appeared from the side and Aasgaard’s fiercely struck free-kick was headed just wide by Matondo, who was later fouled by Scott Hooper for the Miovski spot-kick.
Hooper almost got one back with what would have been a memorable strike, the ball flashing into the side netting.
Next to Miovski, right winger Curtis was the most impressive attacker in Rangers’ makeshift side. An assist and two near misses showed just what the 19-year-old can offer.
Kilmarnock have been linked with Curtis, with new Rugby Park manager Neil McCann having worked with him at Ibrox last season.
The arrival of Olsen and return of Matondo stiffens the competition Curtis is already up against should he remain in Glasgow, with Djeidi Gassama starting on the left against Annan.
And head coach Danny Rohl has hinted Olsen has been earmarked for the right-hand berth.
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: “Yeah, 5-0 is a good result. The first couple of minutes, we needed a little bit of time. We rotated the players, they were not so connected but through the game we would be better and better.
“It was an opportunity to get some players minutes. It was good to see today a debut from the academy player. Tochi got some first minutes. This is good to see. Bojan scored three times. This is fantastic. At the end, Thelo makes the fantastic fee-kick. It was a good finish in this game.”
Annan Athletic player-manager Wullie Gibson: “A lot of positives, although we come away on a 5-0 defeat. We know it’s sore but we knew the quality we were up against. I was really proud of the way we played. We did create chances.
“They’re good players, they know how to move the ball that quickly and get into the areas that hurt you. The fifth goal just tops it off, it shows you the quality that’s in the side.”
