Forfar 0 - 4 Rangers: Miller grabs brace as Rangers ease through

KENNY Miller brought a barren spell of over two months to a merciful end last night as the Scotland striker scored twice in an ultimately comprehensive but less than thrilling victory for Rangers over Third Division opposition in the fifth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup.

While Forfar Athletic will bank an estimated £120,000 from the tie, wiping out their overdraft and providing welcome financial stability, it is the trophy holders who have secured a home quarter-final against Hamilton Academical on 7 March.

After Walter Smith's much-changed team had failed to capitalise on an early goal from Sasa Papac, it was Miller who ensured they finally eased their way into the last eight against Dick Campbell's men, who had defender Elliot Smith sent off for a shocking foul on DaMarcus Beasley.

While assistant manager Ally McCoist had identified complacency as the biggest threat to Rangers in this tie, the Ibrox club's coaching staff were nonetheless content to make no fewer than six changes to the starting line-up which had ground out a goalless draw at Celtic Park on Sunday.

Captain Barry Ferguson and his midfield partner Pedro Mendes were not even in the party which travelled to Angus, while teenager John Fleck was also rested. Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty both dropped to the substitutes' bench, while Kirk Broadfoot missed out because of the foot injury he sustained during the Old Firm stalemate.

Having played only three matches in 2009 prior to last night because of the weather, Forfar could be excused a level of rustiness to go along with any nerves they were experiencing on such a significant occasion.

By making an early breakthrough, Rangers threatened to turn it into an anti-climax similar to their last visit to Station Park seven years ago when a first minute strike from Billy Dodds had paved the way to a 6-0 win.

Steven Whittaker, one of those called into the reshuffled Ibrox side, had already come close with a long range effort before Papac found a way beyond Ally Brown in the home goal in the eighth minute.

The American international duo of Maurice Edu and Beasley, making rare appearances for Rangers, combined neatly down the left flank to stretch the Forfar defence. The incisive passing move concluded with Miller's through ball to Papac, the overlapping left-back steering a precise low shot beyond Brown.

Smith made a terrific tackle to deny Steven Naismith what appeared a certain second goal for Rangers three minutes later, after more adventurous work down the left from Papac, and there were signs a mismatch may be about to unfold.

There was an equally alarming turn of events off the pitch for Forfar when one of the temporary floodlight towers installed to accommodate Sky's live coverage of the game went out. Happily, power was restored after just eight minutes of relative gloom and the part-timers displayed some resilience of their own as they gradually seized a foothold in the match.

Brown set the example for his team-mates, making fine saves to keep out a powerful shot from Beasley and then an overhead kick from Miller who had been set up by Kris Boyd's header. Forfar responded with veteran defender Andy Tod twice coming close in quick succession to equalising as the visitors struggled to deal with a couple of corner kicks. From the first, Tod's shot was deflected narrowly over the crossbar off Whittaker. Rangers again failed to pick up the 37-year-old former Hearts and Dunfermline man when the second set-piece was delivered and this time Tod drove a powerful shot narrowly wide of Allan McGregor's right-hand post.

Perhaps sensing the need to re-emphasise their superiority over the team currently sitting third from bottom of the Third Division, Rangers displayed greater conviction and urgency at the start of the second half.

Boyd, who might have expected to enhance his already remarkable scoring statistics for Rangers in this tie, did find the net but only after the assistant linesman's flag had been raised for offside. Brown then made another important intervention to bundle a close range effort from the striker behind for a corner.

It was Boyd's less prolific partner, however, who finally doubled Rangers' lead in the 54th minute. Miller ended a ten-match sequence without a goal, stretching back to 6 December last year, when he latched onto a panicky attempted clearance from Forfar right-back Stephen McNally and drove a powerful right-foot shot high beyond Brown into the roof of the net.

Miller was fortunate to avoid a caution at the very least when he left Forfar defender Stephen Tulloch prostrate for several minutes after catching him in the face with a flailing arm.

But there could be no room for doubt in the mind of referee Eddie Smith when he summarily reduced Forfar to ten men with 20 minutes remaining. Left-back Smith's two-footed lunge on Beasley was reckless in the extreme and he could have no complaints about the straight red card he received for it. The American winger was able to walk back to the dressing room after lengthy treatment, but was replaced by young Spanish midfielder Aaron Niguez.

Rangers capitalised on their numerical advantage by adding two more goals in the closing stages against their weary opponents. Lafferty, who had replaced a disconsolate Boyd, set up number three with a pass which was misjudged by McNally and ran through to Niguez who smashed a right-foot shot beyond Brown to score his first goal for Rangers.

Miller added further gloss to the scoreline in the final minute, heading home from close range after Lafferty had nodded the ball into his path following a Niguez free kick.

Forfar Athletic: Brown, McNally, Tod, Tulloch, Smith, Gordon, Winter, Brady, Graham Gibson, Lilley, Campbell. Subs: John Gibson, Donachie, Kilgannon, Fotheringham, McGuigan.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Papac, Weir, Bougherra, Edu, Beasley, McCulloch, Naismith, Miller, Boyd. Subs: Alexander, Dailly, Lafferty, Niguez, Davis.