Ayr United 1-6 Rangers: Gers rally to reach Scottish Cup quarter-finals

Rangers survived an early scare against Ayr United to cruise into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a thumping 6-1 win at Somerset Park.

Alan Forrest, brother of Celtic winger James, took advantage of a mistake by Gers goalkeeper Wed Foderingham in the 10th minute to give the League One side a shock lead but returning striker Alfredo Morelos levelled on the half-hour mark to spark what proved a rout.

Graeme Murty’s side were ruthless after the break as Jason Cummings struck from close range in the 65th minute before a double from Josh Windass – either side of Morelos’ second – preceded a last-minute counter from Jamie Murphy.
The home side were gifted their perfect start when Foderingham hesitated when taking David Bates’ pass back and Forrest, whose brother scored a hat-trick for the Hoops in their 3-2 win over Partick Thistle on Saturday, pounced to bundle into the net.
The goal sprung the Govan side – managed by assistant Neil Scally with Ian McCall absent following an eye operation – into action and they upped the tempo immediately, forcing Ayr into some dogged defending.

In the 25th minute, Windass’ header from a James Tavernier cross crashed off the crossbar before Morelos, to the amazement of everyone inside the ground, scooped a Greg Docherty cross over the woodwork from a couple of yards out.

It was a remarkable miss but the Colombian striker made up for it a few minutes later as he fired high into the net – after midfielder Sean Goss’ 25-yard drive cannoned off the bar – taking his tally for the season to 14.

Gers kept up the pressure and as the driving sleet turned to snow Ayr keeper Jack Ruddy parried a Cummings drive from close range in a packed home penalty area.

There was a delay to the start to the second-half as lines were cleared of snow and though the Ibrox side kept pressing, Foderingham was forced into a good blocking save from Declan McDaid following a swift Ayr counter-attack.

Goss came close with a drive before Murphy had the ball in the Ayr net on the hour mark after Ruddy had spilled a powerful shot from Cummings only to see the offside flag was up.

The next goal looked imminent and it arrived when Murphy took a quick corner to Goss and – when he crossed into the middle – Cummings managed to hook the ball over his shoulder and into the net.

Rangers then pressed home their superiority in the final stages.

Windass, who played despite irking Gers fans with a ‘shush’ gesture last time out, side-footed a Declan John cut-back into the net from 14 yards before Morelos did likewise from much closer range, after being set up by Murphy.

Windass completed his double with back-post header from another Goss delivery before Murphy, on loan from Brighton, scored his first goal for Rangers with a fine angled finish after racing into the Ayr penalty area.
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