Tavernier hat-trick helps Rangers put eight by stunned Queen's Park

13h ago | Source: BBC

Ryan Naderi scored eight minutes into his first start for Rangers

James Tavernier hit a first-half hat-trick as Rangers breezed into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, avenging last year's shock defeat by Queen's Park.

Almost exactly 12 months ago, Calum Ferrie was the hero for the Championship side, making save after save and stopping a late penalty from Tavernier in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament.

This time, the goalkeeper was sent the wrong way from the spot by the Ibrox captain after punching a corner from the full-back into his own net, while Tavernier's first goal was forced home from close range.

Ryan Naderi opened his Rangers account on his first start and Matty Shiels knocked in an own goal before the interval, both coming from corners.

Naderi helped himself to a second header early in the second half and Bojan Miovski steered in the seventh on 80 minutes.

Tochi Chukwuani, who flicked on Tavernier's delivery for the Shiels own goal, completed the rout, applying the finish to a neat passing sequence.

Queen's Park made it through by default after Stranraer were expelled for not following the correct procedure for registering an on-loan goalkeeper in the previous round.

While the reprieve will provide a healthy boost for the club's coffers, there was little danger of lightning striking twice in such an error-strewn display that will compound the misery of a team sitting bottom of the second tier.

The visitors did have the ball in the net at 1-0 but Aidan Connolly was offside by quite a distance, a fleeting moment of joy swiftly doused.

Analysis: Naderi off the mark with aerial threat

Tavernier's first career hat-trick helped deliver a ninth successive home win for Rangers.

It takes the skipper's tally of goals to 143 to go along with his 147 assists, those contributions coming in over a decade at the club.

Such a comfortable afternoon made for a stark contrast to the roiling angst in the stands a year ago when Seb Drozd struck the winner for Queen's Park, with Ibrox a much happier place these days.

At 22, Naderi is 12 years younger than his new captain and fans will be encouraged by the physically imposing striker's display.

The German was left completely free to nod in the opener from a corner, the ball taking a slight deflection on its way past Ferrie.

He enjoyed lots of room again to double his tally as he met an Oliver Antman cross.

And there could have been an argument about who gets to keep the match-ball had Naderi not knocked a volleyed effort over the top in the first half.

Slipshod defending contributed to the big score, with Danny Rohl's side feasting on the visitors weakness at set-pieces.

Ferrie was under little pressure as he misjudged Tavernier's curling corner and was badly positioned for Naderi's second, while the penalty was awarded when an Andreas Skov Olsen shot was stopped by an outstretched hand.

After hammering 10-man Kilmarnock, 13 goals from two outings will lift the positive mood at Rangers further, although much tougher assignments await against in-form Motherwell and Premiership leaders Hearts.

What they said

Rangers manager Danny Rohl: "You never know what will happen in a cup game, you have to take it very seriously. Today, we did our job.

"It was very professional. We scored early, this is always helpful in such a game. It was about being hungry for more.

"When I took over, it was about finding a group to find wins and get balance. Now, win by win, we feel the confidence. Everyone is now focused on the next game because we have a big week ahead."

Queen's Park manager Sean Crighton: "We didn't turn up on the day and that's not something I've said too often about this group. We were miles off it.

"We got the basics wrong all over the pitch, set-plays. Obviously, it's very difficult being 5-0 down at half-time.

"This is going to hurt but the players need to use that hurt. We need to move on and not feel sorry for ourselves."