Rangers put eight past Stenhousemuir at Ibrox Stadium in the Scottish League One this afternoon.
The league leaders went into the break with a three-goal advantage courtesy of a Jon Daly brace and an own goal by Ross Smith.
Ally McCoists's side ran riot in the second half, with Daly adding another two goals to his tally, before Lee Wallace, David Templeton and Bilel Mohsni completed the rout.
Find out how all of the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the Scottish League One clash between Rangers and Stenhousemuir at Ibrox Stadium. team news incoming...
RANGERS XI: Bell; Foster, McCulloch, Mohsni, Wallace; Peralta, Black, Law, Macleod; Little, Daly
No word on the Stenhousemuir lineup, but we will have that for you as soon as we can.
Rangers welcome back both Ian Black and Lewis Macleod for today's clash as Ally McCoist names a strong side for this top-of-the-table encounter. Stenhousemuir lie five points behind league-leaders Rangers ahead of kickoff.
KICKOFF: We're under way here at a packed Ibrox.
GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Stenhousemuir (Daly)
Rangers get off to a flyer in this Scottish League One clash as Ian Black swings an early cross into the box, which Jon Daly heads beyond Smith in the visitor's goal to make it 1-0 with three minutes played.
That Stenhousemuir starting XI we promised you earlier: Smith, Devlin, McKinlay, Smith, McMillan, Hodge, Dixkson, Ferguson, Gemmell, Higgins, Smith
Good work from Wallace along the left flank. He plays the ball to Little, who is forced wide as he attempts to swing a cross into the box, allowing Smith to collect the lofted pass.
Rangers break at a frightening pace as Macleod feeds a through ball wide to Peralta, who is forced wide and blocked, allowing the Stenhousemuir defence to clear its lines.
GOAL! Rangers 2-0 Stenhousemuir (Daly)
Daley helps himself to his second of the match after Wallace and Macleod play a one-two and the latter's cross isn't properly cleared, allowing the striker to pounce in the box.
Half-chance for Rangers as Daly attempts to find Peralta in the danger zone, but his pass is intercepted and the danger is cleared.
Stenhousemuir threaten for the first time as they win a corner, but fail to make anything of it thanks to a powerful header away from Lee McCulloch.
A couple of chances fall Rangers' way. First Macleod slices wide after good work from Peralta, then Little has an effort smothered after being lined up by Macleod. Good pressure from the hosts.
Macleod has been a live wire during this first half. He feeds Law along the left channel, but the midfielder puts too much on his cross for Daly to connect with it.
CHANCE! Macleod plays a through ball to Little, who times his run to perfection, but curles his finish over the bar. The quality of passing and movement from Rangers has been first rate today.
GOAL! Rangers 3-0 Stenhousemuir (Smith, OG)
Andy Little is claiming Rangers' third goal, but it was Stenhousemuir defender Smith that got the final touch. Black played in the cross and Mohsni supplied the header, which was saved by the goalkeeper, but McKinlay's attempted clearance bobbles over the line off Smith under pressure from Little.
Rangers in total control here at Ibrox. Stenhousemuir have not had a clear-cut shot on goal so far, while the likes of Little, Daly and Macleod have been too much for them to handle. The latter has just curled a shot narrowly wide of the post.
OFF THE POST! Daley does well to sling a lofted pass to Law at the back post. The midfielder leaps higher than his marker, but his effort comes back off the upright.
HALF TIME: Rangers 3-0 Stenhousemuir
Rangers are flying here at Ibrox, with a Daly brace and an own goal from Smith giving them a three-goal lead at the break. It doesn't look like there is any hope for Stenhousemuir in this second half.
There's a poignant tribute to the armed forces going on at Ibrox at half time, with uniformed officers from the army and navy matching in procession across the pitch, accompanied by bagpipers.
Although Rangers will move another three points clear of Stenhousemuir should things remain the same, it looks as though second-placed Dunfermline will be keeping the gap limited to five points. They have a 4-1 lead over Aye United at half time.
Meanwhile, in the Scottish Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle are keeping the pressure up on Rangers' city rivals Celtic at the top of the table. They lead Hibs 1-0 at the break.
KICKOFF: The second half gets under way at Ibrox.
Stenhousemuir start the second period on the ropes as Rangers get plenty of bodies forward. Foster whips in a cross, but Smith heads clear. The ball eventually finds its way out for a Gers corner.
Half-chance for Rangers as Daley plays in a measured cross from the right. Andy Little gets a yard on his marker and goes up for the header, but his glancing effort drifts over the bar.
CHANCE! Stenhousemuir have their best chance of the game after an error from Lee McCulloch leaves Rangers exposed. Darren Smith picks up the loose ball and bears down on goal, he rounds Cammy Bell, but shoots across the face of goal.
GOAL! Rangers 4-0 Stenhousemuir (Daly)
Daley completes his hattrick and puts Rangers 4-0 up in the process. Foster played in a brilliant delivery from wide on the right. His cross bounced before finding its way to the striker, who put it away with a diving header.
Wallace goes on a mazy run and is taken out on the edge of the box. The referee waves play on, much to the Rangers' man's frustration. To be fair, he has a point. The Stenhousemuir defender clearly missed the ball there.
OFF THE BAR! Andy Little is desperately unlucky not to extend Rangers' lead as he has a shot cleared off then line, then hits the bar in quick succession. Daley latches onto the rebound but blazes it over.
Rangers playing confident football in this second half. Aside from that one defensive lapse, they have been just as dominant as they were in the first period. I think there are more goals in them this afternoon.
GOAL! Rangers 5-0 Stenhousemuir (Wallace)
Lee Wallace nets his first goal since Boxing Day after latching onto a lofted pass from Ian Black, who demonstrates great vision to pick him out. He keeps his cool and side-foots one beyond Smith to make it 5-0.
Rangers don't look like they are done yet either. Mohsni glances a header over the bar following an in-swinging corner from Peralta.Stenhousemuir offering little in the way of opposition.
SUBSTITUTION: Young striker Nicky Clark replaces Andy Little for Rangers up font. He will no doubt fancy his chances of increasing his goal tally for the season judging by how Rangers are playing.
Here's an action shot of Andy Little from today's game courtesy of the Rangers Twitter account:
ACTION SHOT: @AndyLittle_7 in action for #Rangers in the first half of today's match. Happy with how we're playing? pic.twitter.com/9QdwNaXKt7
— Rangers FC Official (@RFC_Official) September 28, 2013
Nicky Law twists and turns his way into the Stenhousemuir area and gets away from Smith. He floats a cross in towards Daly, but the striker puts his header over the bar.
Nicky Clark races through on goal, rounds the keeper and puts the ball in the net, but a late offside flag denies him. It was the right decision by the linesman, but he was late raising his flag.
CHANCE! Almost a sixth for Rangers as Lewis Macleod and Nicky Clark exchange passes and the latter sails in a cross from Ian Black to head towards goal, but he puts it wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Rangers bring on Templeton for Macleod for the last 13 minutes of the match.
Nicky Law puts the ball in the net at the second time of asking, only to realise that the linesman had his flag raised. Once again, the correct decision.
Another action shot from this afternoon's game, this time of Lee Wallace:
ACTION SHOT: Lee Wallace battling for the ball in today's match (via http://t.co/YmCWtWyHaP) pic.twitter.com/YKlNvXLnHO — Rangers FC Official (@RFC_Official) September 28, 2013
GOAL! Rangers 6-0 Stenhousemuir (Daly)
Daly notches up his fourth goal of the match after Mohsni and Clark combine to lay the ball on a plate for him. A striker in as good form as he is was never going to miss from close range.
GOAL! Rangers 7-0 Stenhousemuir (Templeton)
Substitute David Templeton makes it 7-0 to Rangers after Nicky Law's effort is parried by Smith. The former Hearts man slots home from close range to dump yet more misery on Stenhousemuir.
Three minutes of stoppage time to be played.
GOAL! Rangers 8-0 Stenhousemuir (Mohsni)
Mohsni adds an eight with a dramatic last-ditch bicycle kick! Superb technique from him! Superb football from Rangers! The gulf between these two sides has been vast today.
FULL TIME: Rangers 8-0 Stenhousemuir
The referee blows the final whistle and puts Stenhousemuir out of their misery. Eight of the best for a dominant Rangers today. They can only beat what's in front of them, and they did so in style today.
Eight goals today and seven league wins out of seven for the Gers. That's all from me this afternoon. Many thanks for joining Sports Mole for this Scottish League One fixture.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
