Good evening, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Scottish Third Division clash between Rangers and Annan Athletic.
The Gers have the chance to move six points clear at the top of the Scottish Third Division tonight as they play host to Annan Athletic at Ibrox.
The two sides endured a goalless draw in the reverse fixture of this clash back in September.
Annan are currently seventh in the league and lie six points adrift of a place in the playoffs.
The match gets underway at 7.45pm.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Rangers vs Annan Athletic in the Scottish Third Division. We'll have the team news for you shortly.
After a mixed start to their campaign, Rangers are flying at the top of the table, and currently sit three points ahead of second-placed Elgin City with two games in hand.
Fran Sandaza starts for the Gers.
Rangers XI: Alexander; Argyriou, Hegarty, McCulloch, Wallace; McKay, Hutton, Macleod, Templeton; Little, Sandaza.
ANNAN XI: Mitchell, Blake, McGowan, Swinglehurst, Watson, Chaplain, Steele, Jardine, Daly, Ramage, Love.
Rangers are the red-hot favourites for this match. They are currently unbeaten in their last six games and come off the back of a 4-2 win at Montrose.
The last times these two sides met was back in September, where they shared a 0-0 draw.
In case you were wondering, here are the Rangers substitutes for this evening...
RANGERS SUBS: Kal Naismith, Robbie Crawford, Ross Perry, Fraser Aird, and Blair Currie
Rangers midfielder Kyle Hutton has been talking about the club's recent good form, after winning their last six games in a row.
Hutton said: "Obviously we have got ourselves into a good position now and our motivation is to win as many games as we can to make the gap even bigger. The gaffer said that Saturday showed our character and belief.
"We have come through a slow start to the season and got the hang of [Third Division football] and now we will concentrate on kicking on. We have to go out now and play the way we know we can, show everybody that we will take no prisoners and try to win every game."
Gers boss Ally McCoist has also been having his say on life in Scotland's fourth tier.
"I think the novelty factor has perhaps worn off a little bit for the opposition," he said. "I am hoping that's the case, although I am contradicting myself because at the weekend Montrose looked a different proposition than they did at our place.
"They were well up for it and really gave us a game. That said, I am hoping our players know what to expect now in terms of the opposition and the competition."
McCoist also believes that his side are in for a tough match tonight.
"Annan will be boosted by the fact that they gave us a proper game at their place when there were no goals," he said. "I am just hopeful that we are a different proposition at home than we were down there."
Kickoff fast approaching...
The players are now coming out of the tunnel, albeit a little delayed.
Rangers get us underway.
Quiet start here at Ibrox, both teams keeping the ball nicely.
And as I say that, Rangers nearly graft a chance, but the cross is put behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Good chance for Rangers, as Barrie McKay picks the ball up on the left on the box before squaring it to Sandaza, but the striker puts his effort wide.
Rangers have taken early control in this game, but have only managed the one chance so far.
CHANCE! Rangers again go close and it's Barrie McKay causing the danger again. He runs the ball down the left-hand side before playing it across to Andrew Little, but the latter's effort is blocked crucially at the last.
Rangers are controlling the match now, but see an effort from David Templeton fly wildly over the crossbar and into the crowd.
Speaking of crowd, Ibrox is filling up rather nicely tonight, another good crowd despite their division.
CHANCE! Yes, another for Rangers. McKay goes charging forward from the midfield before passing it through to Lee Wallace, who puts in a dangerous low cross but it is scrambled away by Annan.
CHANCE! Andy Little with the opportunity this time, racing on to a pass before lifting an audacious chip over the keeper but over the crossbar.
It's all Rangers here at Ibrox.
CHANCE! Rangers go so close yet again, as Sandaza curls a beauty from the edge of the box which is heading for the top corner, until Alex Mitchell sticks out a hand and puts it over the bar.
Chance From the resulting corner, Lee McCulloch controls the ball on the edge of the box before shooting just wide of the near post.
If you hadn't already guessed, this is a very one-sided game of football.
Rangers can't be far away from taking the lead, they have absolutely bossed it so far.
CHANCE! Again Rangers attack and again they are denied. Andy Little forces Mitchell into making another great stop after a fine curling cross from Wallace.
All that's missing is the goal from this Rangers performance so far.
Just reflecting on some of the action, and the Gers had seven corners in the first 17 minutes of the match. Domination.
Thankfully for Annan, this game will be decided on goals, not corners.
It's been so one-sided, I couldn't tell you if they are many people behind Neil Alexander's goal.
CHANCE! Believe it or not, Annan have just had their first real effort of the game. A lovely flowing move results in a few passes into the box before Michael Daly side-foots the ball straight at the keeper.
Annan have a free kick out wide but the cross is cleared with ease.
Rangers have a free kick from the midway point of the Annan half. They float it into the back post towards McCulloch but it is cleared.
GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Annan Athletic (David Templeton)
It's been coming, and Rangers finally have their goal. The ball is worked from out wide to the edge of the box, where Templeton absolutely slams it through a crowd of bodies in the box into the bottom corner. Finally.
It will be interesting to see if the floodgates open now at Ibrox.
Annan enjoying a spell of possession at the moment, they are not creating many chances though.
The game has gone quiet since the goal in terms of action. Gers fans are still making a lot of noise at Ibrox.
CHANCE! Templeton is again involved for the Gers, spinning on the edge of the box before Lewis Macleod side-foots an effort at Mitchell, who spills the ball before diving on it.
Rangers continue to dominate possession.
CHANCE! Wallace puts in a dipping cross before 5'6" Templeton manages to connect with his head, but somehow Mitchell parries the ball away. Great reactions from the Annan keeper.
CHANCE! This time the chance falls to Annan, more specifically Chris Jardine, but he fires his 25-year shot just wide of the near post.
Rangers seem very keen on doubling their advantage before the break.
CHANCE! Another great save from Mitchell, who denies Lewis MacLeod from close range.
HALF-TIME: Rangers 1-0 Annan Athletic
So the first half ends with Rangers dominating the match from the first whistle. Just the one goal for the Gers though for the break although it could, and probably should, be about five.
The goal was a peach though from David Templeton, who really did hammer his effort into the back of the net.
Neil Alexander has been largely a spectator in the Rangers goal tonight, and I can only recall him having to make one save. Other than that, he may as well have stayed at home.
The teams are back out at Ibrox.
And we're underway in the second half.
A quiet start to second half here, not much action as of yet.
Annan have a chance from a free kick here, 10 yards outside the box.
It's a poor effort from Ally Love, who puts it disappointingly high over the bar.
Corner to Rangers.
Lewis MacLeod plays it short, but the Gers fail to carve out a chance, as Annan clear the danger.
Sandaza is upended on the edge of the box but gets nothing from the referee. Needless to say, the striker is furious with the call.
CHANCE! A bitter-sweet chance of sorts for Rangers, as Andy Little rampages down the right flank, making his way into the penalty area before playing a poor pass which is cleared away by Annan. Should have done better there.
Another corner for the home side.
Nothing comes of the kick once again, as Rangers try to work an opening, but in the end Sandaza runs the ball out for a goal kick.
Quiet spell in the game here, no real chances at the start of the second half. Neither keeper has had to make a save.
PENALTY TO ANNAN, RED CARD FOR RANGERS!
Can't quite see who has been sent off yet, but the ball strikes the arm of Gers defender in the box and Annan have a way back into the game.
PENALTY SAVED! Neil Alexander guesses the right way and dives low to his right to stop an admittedly poor penalty.
Lee Wallace was the man who was sent off for Rangers, before Chaplain failed to convert from the spot.
Tempers are flaring here at Ibrox, as McCulloch squares up to an Annan player on the touchline. It's getting heated here, and it's well and truly game on.
GOAL! Rangers 2-0 Annan Athletic (Andy Little)
It's a great goal from Andy Little, he is slotted through with a pass from the halfway line, and he runs it into the area on the right and fires a shot low and across the face of goal before watching it smash into the bottom corner.
So just when it looked as if Annan might find a way back into the game, Rangers double their lead. Incredible.
What a difference a couple of minutes makes in football.
The Ibrox crowd is really enjoying itself now and cheer wildly as one Annan defender kicks the ball off his teammate for a corner to Rangers. Nothing comes from it though.
It was an amusing moment thought to say the least.
Substitution Sandaza is off and is replaced by Ross Perry for Rangers.
GOAL! Rangers 3-0 Annan Athletic (David Templeton)
It's a spectacular goal from Templeton to score his second and Rangers' third of the game. The midfielder weaves his way through the Annan defence before dipping his effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
He looks a really good player this Templeton.
That's it now for this match, the points are safe and Rangers are going six points clear at the top of the table.
You would have thought so, but stranger things have happened.
CHANCE! Barrie McKay goes close for Rangers after a nice dribble into the box, but his finish is weak and straight at Alex Mitchell in the Annan goal.
While Rangers will extend their lead at the top of the league if the result stays the same, Annan will drop a place to eighth due to a hammering to their goal difference.
SUBSTITUTION The lively Barrie McKay is replaced by Fraiser Aird for Rangers, while Annan make a double change.
CHANCE! Rangers have a free kick in a promising position on the edge of the box, but the effort is over the wall and straight at the keeper.
The attendance at Ibrox tonight is 42,135. Not bad for a Scottish Third Division match a week before Christmas day.
The game may be in the bag, but Rangers are still going in search of a fourth.
CHANCE! A rare chance for Annan, as the cross comes in from the left, giving Ally Love a free header on the edge of the six-yard box. However, Love's effort is well saved by Alexander, who has dealt well whenever he has been called into action tonight.
SUBSTITUTION Rangers make their third and final change, as Andy Little comes off, and Kal Naismith comes on.
The game is really dying down now, can't imagine there being too much injury time. Going to guess at two extra minutes.
David Templeton has been named as the sponsor's man of the match and I quite agree. He has been sensational tonight.
FULL-TIME: Rangers 3-0 Annan Athletic
So that is it here at Ibrox, the result was never really in doubt. A comfortable win for Rangers in front of a big crowd.
It could have been a different story though had Chaplain converted his penalty which would have levelled the score at 1-1, especially with Lee Wallace being sent off for Rangers.
Two greats goals from David Templeton, with a goal from Andy Little sandwiched in between them was enough to give the Gers the win in a match which they dominated from the first whistle to the last.
The win puts Rangers six points clear at the top of the Scottish Third Division table, while Annan slip a place to eight after the defeat.
Well that's it for our coverage tonight, I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time, good night.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
