It was all too easy for Rangers this afternoon as the Light Blues
chalked up their fourth successive league win with a 4-1 scoreline
against Dunfermline Athletic in a game which had many onlookers
longing for the much debated European League.
Rangers opened the scoring in 10 minutes via a penalty kick when
Neil McCann, released by Billy Dodds, was upended by Jason Dair
(nephew of the great Jim Baxter). Jorg Albertz, making his 200th
competitive appearance for the Ibrox side, did the needful although
Pars goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek did get a hand to his shot.
The 47,452 spectators sat back expecting a Rangers onslaught,
but within 4 minutes the the score was level when a Stephen Boyle
header from Rob Matthaei's cross ended up in the net.
Perhaps shaken out of any complaceny, Rangers surged forward
with a 40 yard effort from Albertz being held by the goalkeeper at
the 2nd attempt before the goalie had to look lively to deny Billy
Dodds from an inswinging Giovanni van Bronkhorst cross. It was
the Dutch star himself who rifled a shot into the roof of the net
following a Neil McCann and Billy Dodds move.
Dodds had a supporting role in both Rangers goals thus far but on
the half hour mark he got himself on the scoresheet rifling home a
15 yard shot from Tugay's pass. A Dunfermline side containing 3
former Rangers players in Ian Ferguson, Barry Nicholson and Brian
Reid had been no lambs to the slaughter but in effect the match
was finished and it was left to Rod Wallace to add the 4th goal
with a close header in 48 minutes from McCann's cross after
Tugay had threaded a pass through the visitors defence.
The game died a death thereafter although Ian Ferguson did enliven
proceedings enough to be good naturedly booed after fouling Billy
Dodds. Lorenzo Amoruso almost added a 5th goal in 68 minutes
with a header from a Van Bronkhorst cross just cleared the
crossbar, and the Light Blues had a penalty claim waved away 4
minutes later when Neil McCann was barged in the back when
meeting a cross from Andrei Kanchelskis.
The Russian winger should certainly have found the net with 10
minutes remaining when released by Tugay only to shoot straight
at the goalie and the keeper's legs then denied Dodds in the 86th
minute when the striker was put clear through by Giovanni van
Bronkhorst.
Thousands had drifted away by the final whistle in a game which
marked the debut of the Danish signing Peter Lovenkrands, a 79th
substitute and Rangers manager Dick Advocaat expressed
satisfaction at the result, stressing Rangers were well in control.
Reporting on the injury situation he stressed that Michael Mols and
Arthur Numan were improving while Craig Moore was a few weeks
away from fitness. He also denied that Rangers had a made a £9
million bid for Filippo Maniero. Dunfermline manager Jimmy
Calderwood conceded Rangers had more class and ability. His
players had been in awe of the opposition, did not compete and did
not believe in themselves.
