It was anti-climax in Angus as promising beginnings for Arbroath dissolved into emphatic defeat by a clinical Rangers side.
Two goals in each half made this a comfortable afternoon for Ally McCoist’s men at Gayfield, with the counters coming from David Healy, Craig Wedderburn (own goal), Nikica Jelavic and Salim Kerkar.
A Scottish Cup shock probably needed SPL champions Rangers to be at their worst and Third Division champions Arbroath to be at their best, but neither happened as Lichties player-boss Paul Sheerin acknowledged.
”Rightly or wrongly we believed we could cause an upset,” he said. “There hadn’t been one on Saturday so we thought maybe we could be the team to do it, but the gulf was huge today.
”Up until they scored we matched them early on and we had a couple of half chances. But they were well worthy of their win. They were far superior on the day unfortunately.
”We were maybe a bit naive but we don’t defend great at the best of times so I thought we would try and have a go.
”It’s done and out of the way, and the game’s been a bit of a hindrance to our league form. There was no pressure on us to win today and it was always a big ask.
”They’ve done a job on us and given us a lesson on how to play up top. We have to sweep it under the carpet and get back to what we want to do and that’s win the Second Division title. We move on and get back to business next week.”
A satisfied McCoist said: ”It was a really professional performance. The result was all that mattered. Our attitude was first class and we ran out deserved winners.”
The game started at a frenetic pace with the two teams exchanging blow for blow in the early stages and it looked like their might be a tight game in store.
Healy ballooned a close range shot over the bar with just seconds on the clock.
It was the home side’s turn to threaten next when on-loan St Johnstone midfielder Liam Caddis drove down the right and sent a teasing cross over, which Gavin Swankie was just short of connecting with.
Carlos Bocanegra then gifted Arbroath possession and Steven Doris nearly took full advantage by taking it on and steering an angled shot just past Allan McGregor’s right hand post.
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Rangers were feeding the ball to Sone Aluko whenever they got the chance and the former Aberdeen winger left Kieran McAnespie trailing in his wake before cutting the ball back to Healy. The Northern Irishman completely miscued his shot however, and Darren Hill wasn’t troubled.
McCoist had Scotland keeper McGregor to thank for keeping them on level terms when he finger tipped a Josh Falkingham deflected volley over the bar.
Arbroath were giving as good as they got in the first 15 minutes but the dynamic of the match changed as soon as the Ibrox side broke the deadlock on 17 minutes.
With the home backline looking to play offside, Maurice Edu put through Healy and the assistant referee’s flag stayed down. There was no wasting the opportunity for a third time from the former Sunderland striker, as on this occasion he calmly slipped the ball past Hill.
The game was effectively finished as a contest on 22 minutes when Jelavic crossed from the byeline on the right and Wedderburn put his attempted clearance into his own net.
Aluko and Healy both had efforts blocked by Hill as the first half drew to a close, and in stoppage time the former was only denied by a full stretch dive to the keeper’s left after he had carried the ball to the edge of the box from the half-way line.
Rangers started the second half as they’d finished the first threatening the home goal. An Aluko cross from the right picked out John Fleck at the back post and his diving header sneaked past the post.
The Lichties had made a half-time change, replacing Caddis with Lee Sibanda, and the substitute had a penalty claim when he was body checked in the box by Dorin Goian. Referee Murray waved play on however.
On 59 minutes Rangers got their third. Aluko threaded a pass through to Jelavic at a crowded 18 yard line and the visitors’ top scorer guided his shot in off Hill’s right hand post.
Goal number four came from substitute Kerkar, who volleyed home at the back post after being set up by Healy on 77 minutes.
The same man should have made it five just before the final whistle but he blazed over after a Hill clearance had dropped at his feet.
Arbroath’s Mark Baxter and Stuart Malcolm were booked, as was Rangers’ Bocanegra.
Attendance 5,895.