Rangers ease past Ayr United

Goals from Nicky Clark and Barrie McKay gave Rangers a 2-0 win over Ayr United in the Scottish Challenge Cup this evening to send Mark Warburton's side into the quarter-finals.

Clark gave Gers the lead on 14 minutes when he netted with the outside of his boot, after good work from Jason Holt down the left-hand side.

Clark almost doubled his tally less than five minutes later, but Ayr keeper Rikki Fleming did well to deny the striker.

Tom Walsh was presented with a good opening shortly before the break but his effort was thwarted as Ayr eventually cleared their lines with Rangers piling the pressure on in search of a second.

Barrie McKay eventually made their dominance tell just before the break when he hammered home inside the area.

After the break, a slack back pass from Dean Shiels almost saw Craig Moore profit, but Dominic Ball did well to recover and make the challenge.

Nathan Oduma combined well with McKay just after the hour mark, with the latter forcing Fleming to parry an effort away from goal.

Ayr should have reduced the deficit inside the final 10 minutes, but Moore could only scoop an effort over the bar when well placed in the penalty area.