A confusing Cyriel Dessers goal helped Rangers overcome St Johnstone 2-0 in their Premier Sports Cup last-16 game at Hampden Park as the Light Blues fans voted with their feet.
The holders went into the game on the back of their costly Champions League qualifying exit to Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday night at the national stadium, used as a temporary home by the Govan club due to the delayed reconstruction of one of the Ibrox stands, and Hampden appeared to be less than half-full for this cup clash.
Philippe Clement’s side had plenty of efforts on goal while Saints struck woodwork in the goalless first half before half-time substitute Dessers netted in the 58th minute.
The goal was awarded after referee Matthew MacDermid was asked by the VAR to check his monitor after initially appearing to blow for a foul by the Gers striker before he drove it in, with substitute Ross McCausland adding a second in added time.
Rangers go into the quarter-final draw but add to current injury woes, new signing Robin Propper went off before the interval to add to the list including Nicolas Raskin, Oscar Cortes, Ridvan Yilmaz, Leon Balogun and Scott Wright.
There was some positive news in the shape of Brazilian striker Danilo, who featured for the first time since recovering from a knee injury sustained last December, while Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell, Vaclav Cerny and Rabbi Matondo also came in to the side.
Levein’s side, buoyed from last week’s 3-0 win at Kilmarnock, had Graham Carey in for the suspended Aaron Essel.
Matondo’s pace down the left was proving an early threat for Rangers and his drive from the edge of the box in the 15th minute was parried by Saints goalkeeper Josh Rae, but Cerny could not capitalise on the loose ball.
Saints were not without a threat and midway through the first half, defender Andre Raymond came out of a tackle with Rangers skipper James Tavernier with the ball but his shot struck defender John Souttar and spun past for a corner.
At the other end, Danilo flashed a cutback from fellow Brazilian Jefte over the crossbar after good work again by Matondo.
Rangers slowly stepped up the pressure and Rae made a great double save, first from Mohamed Diomande’s drive and then Danilo from the rebound, before Jefte and then Cerny cleared the bar with efforts.
Saints, however, came closest when Matthew Smith’s cross from the right was volleyed on to the post and behind by lively attacker Adama Sidibeh.
Just before the break, Clement’s injury problems were compounded when Propper looked to pick up a groin strain and had to be replaced by Ben Davies, and there was time for Danilo to miss the target with a header and Rae to make another save from Cerny’s header.
There was no surprise when Dessers replaced Danilo for the start of the second half and there was confusion after he hammered the ball past Rae.
It looked like referee MacDermid had called a foul by Dessers on St Johnstone defender Jack Sanders at the edge of the box before the Ibrox forward scored, but after being sent to look at it again on his pitchside monitor he pointed for a goal, giving the home fans something to cheer at last and angering the visitors.
Rae saved at his far post from Davies following a corner and in a quick St Johnstone attack, Rangers keeper Jack Butland tipped a powerful Sidibeh drive over the bar.
Dessers came close with an effort in the 85th minute and the Light Blues spurned other chances – Sidibeh also missed an opportunity before McCausland, on for Cerny in the 82nd minute, beat Rae with a drive after latching on to Dessers’ miscontrolled ball.
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