Rangers Deliver Statement Victory Against Queen’s Park
The stark contrast between the recent struggles under Philippe Clement and the palpable optimism now surrounding Rangers under Danny Rohl was laid bare for all to see as Queen’s Park were comprehensively swept aside in the Scottish Cup fifth round. A year after a historic upset that reverberated far beyond Scotland’s borders, the Championship side found themselves on the receiving end of a dominant performance, a far cry from their previous triumph.
While Queen’s Park would have harboured hopes of a competitive encounter, the 8-0 scoreline delivered a significant blow to their morale. For Rangers captain James Tavernier, it was a day of redemption. Twelve months prior, his missed stoppage-time penalty against Calum Ferrie in this very fixture had sealed arguably the biggest Scottish Cup shock in the tournament’s history. This time, however, Tavernier etched his name into the headlines for a different reason, bagging a hat-trick as his side marched emphatically into the quarter-finals. The goals were complemented by a brace from new striker Ryan Naderi, an own goal from Matthew Shiels, and late strikes from Bojan Miovski and the impressive Tochi Chukwuani, all contributing to the buoyant atmosphere under Rohl.
A Critical Juncture for Rangers
This resounding victory arrives at a crucial moment for Rangers as they aim to solidify their Premiership title aspirations, a prospect that seemed distant earlier in the season. Upcoming fixtures, including a midweek trip to Motherwell and a significant Ibrox showdown with league leaders Hearts on Sunday, will serve as crucial indicators of whether Rangers possess the staying power to go the distance in the title race.
A Shift in Personnel, A Familiar Scoreline
Notable personnel changes were evident from Rohl’s starting XI compared to the previous year’s tie. Only goalkeeper Liam Kelly, captain Tavernier, and midfielder Mohamed Diomande retained their places. The presence of Queen’s Park goalkeeper Ferrie and the 2025 match-winner Seb Drozd in the visitors’ lineup would have undoubtedly triggered some unwelcome flashbacks for the home faithful.
Ferrie, who delivered a heroic performance in last year’s upset, was unable to replicate those heroics. While he showed flashes of his past brilliance, notably a sharp save from Tuur Rommens’ powerful fourth-minute effort, it soon became apparent that this Rangers side possessed a significantly greater level of zeal, purpose, and efficiency.
Early Dominance and a Naderi Debut Goal
The breakthrough came just four minutes after Ferrie’s initial save. Ryan Naderi, making his first start for Rangers, marked the occasion with his maiden goal for the club. The goal stemmed from a well-executed set-piece, with Tavernier’s corner finding Naderi, who was afforded ample space to head home past a crowded six-yard box.
Queen’s Park’s only real threat of note came from a counter-attack that saw Aidan Connolly tap the ball into the net from a clearly offside position, a decision quickly flagged by the assistant referee. Beyond this isolated moment, the game was overwhelmingly one-way traffic towards Ferrie’s goal.
Tavernier Takes Centre Stage
Rangers doubled their advantage in the 18th minute. A neat interplay between Rommens and Diomande on the left flank resulted in a cross from Diomande, which Tavernier met decisively in the air before stabbing the loose ball into the net from close range.
Ferrie managed to deny Miovski with a header, but the third goal in the 26th minute proved to be a moment of misfortune for the goalkeeper. Tavernier’s inswinging corner from the left was arguably catchable, but Ferrie misjudged his attempt to punch the ball clear, inadvertently diverting it into his own net. While Tavernier was credited with the goal, the error was clear for all to see.
The first half continued in a similar vein, with Rangers firmly in control. The visitors’ woes were compounded in the 39th minute when Roddy MacGregor’s handball inside the box presented Rangers with a penalty. James Tavernier, seizing the opportunity for a personal redemption, stepped up and emphatically banished the ghosts of last year by sending Ferrie the wrong way to complete his hat-trick.
Rangers were not finished before the interval. Two minutes prior to half-time, another Tavernier corner was flicked on by Chukwuani, and Queen’s Park defender Matthew Shiels, in an attempt to clear, inadvertently directed the ball into his own net.
Second-Half Rout
The second half transformed into an extended period of attack versus defence training for Rangers, with Queen’s Park desperately trying to stem the tide. Their efforts proved futile. Just four minutes after the restart, Naderi showcased his predatory instincts once more, nodding home Oliver Antman’s cross from the right to secure his second goal of the match.
Ferrie made a commendable save to deny Skov Olsen, and for a brief period, it seemed the scoreline might not worsen for the beleaguered goalkeeper. However, Rangers finished with a flourish.
With ten minutes remaining, substitute Jayden Meghoma delivered a cross that was met by the head of Miovski, adding a sixth goal for the home side.
The crowning moment of the rout came in the 90th minute. A fluid and incisive passing sequence culminated in midfielder Tochi Chukwuani, who is proving to be a significant acquisition, smashing home the eighth goal beyond a helpless Ferrie.
Referee Ross Hardie blew the final whistle immediately after play restarted, the lack of any significant stoppage time appearing to be an act of mercy towards Queen’s Park.
While last year’s encounter etched itself into the annals of Scottish Cup history for Queen’s Park and their supporters, this year’s fixture will be remembered for the dominant performance of Rangers. The visitors trudged off the pitch, their fans no doubt eager to put this chastening experience behind them as quickly as possible.
Match Details
Rangers 8-0 Queen’s Park
Rangers (4-4-2): Kelly 6, Tavernier 7, Djiga 6, Sterling 6 (Bajrami 46 6), Rommens 7 (Meghoma 61 6); Skov Olsen 6 (Moore 71 4), Chukwuani 8, Diomande 6 (Matondo 61 4), Antman 7; Naderi 7 (Aasgaard 61 4), Miovski 7.
Booked: Antman
Manager: Danny Rohl 8
Queen’s Park (4-2-3-1): Ferrie 4, Pignatiello 5, Murray 5, Shiels 4, Fieldson 5; MacGregor 5 (Bradley 76), Longridge 5; Connolly 5 (McLean 76), Savoury 5 (McLeish 76), McDonnell 5 (Waugh 46 5); Drozd 5 (Sowa 89).
Booked: McLeish
Manager: Sean Crighton 5
Referee: Ross Hardie 6
Attendance: 36,190
