Rangers ‘failed’ despite 3-0 win v Annan says opposition manager
Rangers eased into the next round of the Scottish Cup thanks to a 3-0 win over League Two side Annan Athletic but the Galabankies boss wasn’t impressed.
Goals from Filip Helander, Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala in a blistering first half an hour for the Gers was enough to put the game beyond the fourth division side.
Annan manager Peter Murphy however wasn’t impressed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side despite the comfortable nature of the Light Blues’ victory.
“At the start, my players were rabbits caught in headlights,” Murphy said, as quoted by the Scottish Sun, “I had a bit of a go at half-time, we showed up and I was pleased.
“I said Rangers would have failed if they didn’t win by four or five so they’ve failed but we’ve lost. My players know they let themselves down in the first 20 minutes.”
Is he right?
Rangers are through to the next round and that is, ultimately, all that matters but has Murphy got a point?
When you look at the side that van Bronckhorst put out at Galabank, maybe they should have gone on to score more.
January signings Aaron Ramsey and Amad Diallo headlined the Gers side with Sakala another first-team star involved.
It was a rotated side but it still had an awful lot of quality, far better than League Two level and perhaps a bigger scoreline should have been the aim.
Murphy will be happy that after the first 32 minutes, Annan kept their door firmly shut to not be embarrassed by the might of Rangers.
For the Gers though, they will just be happy that they are into the next round and this game won’t be a memorable one for many if any.
In other Rangers news, Ramsey admitted to being “rusty” on his first start for the club yesterday.