Rangers v Inverness CT

Rangers 0

Team badge of Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Inverness CT 3

Shinnie 27′ Warren 59′ Shinnie 79′ (pen)

FT 90 +3
HT 0-1

Highlights - Rangers 0-3 Inverness CT

By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland Sport at Ibrox

Inverness Caledonian Thistle advanced to the semi-finals of the Scottish Communities League Cup for the first time with an ultimately comfortable defeat of Rangers.

Former Rangers striker Andrew Shinnie put ICT ahead with a composed finish during an even first half.

The visitors dominated the second period and grabbed an easy second through Gary Warren's header.

Graeme Shinnie completed the scoring from the penalty spot.

The scoreline was not a flattering one as Caley Thistle seldom allowed Rangers to dominate the match as they had against Motherwell in the previous round.

The visitors were clinical in attack and solid in defence, Rangers were neither, though they started brightly enough.

It was Neil Alexander, though, who twice had to save to keep the scoreline blank in the early stages.

First, he pushed away a viciously swerving drive from Aaron Doran before a more comfortable near-post take from the unmarked Billy McKay following poor defensive play by Rangers.

Indeed, almost 15 minutes had passed before Antonio Reguero was called upon to make a save - a fairly easy one to keep out Lewis McLeod's low effort.

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The Spaniard had to dash off his line just moments later as a slick Rangers move ended with Andrew Little getting a shot in on goal, only to see the keeper block with his legs.

Rangers had begun to put together a couple of pretty promising attacks, but they fell behind on 27 minutes when Doran managed to poke the ball between two static defenders, allowing Shinnie to slide the ball past Alexander and into the net.

It took Ally McCoist's side until three minutes before half-time to mount anything resembling a response and when it did come - in the shape of a Chris Hegarty header - it landed on the roof of the net.

They carved out a better chance eight minutes after the interval.

Little got to the bye-line on the right before finding McCulloch with the cutback, but the captain's tame effort was well off-target.

The home fans howled for a red card to be shown to David Raven three minutes later as, having already been booked, he brought Dean Shiels to ground, but the referee Steven McLean settled for a word in the defender's ear.

Moments later, Raven won the corner from which Caley Thistle doubled their lead, though Rangers' defending again left plenty to be desired.

Graeme Shinnie swung the ball in from the right and Warren was allowed to head past Alexander unchallenged.

Terry Butcher's men should have been out of sight with a quarter of the game still to go. Hegarty was woefully short with a passback, but McKay spurned the unexpected opportunity, shooting straight at the goalkeeper.

Alexander was again on hand to keep Caley Thistle out on 71 minutes when Andrew Shinnie threaded a pass to McKay, but the striker once more found his way to goal blocked.

But the third goal did arrive when Rangers' half-time substitute Anestis Argyriou was adjudged to have barged Andrew Shinnie - who was going nowhere inside the penalty area - and Graeme Shinnie sent Alexander the wrong way from the spot.

Rangers were a well-beaten side by this stage, posing virtually no threat to Reguero and his defence.

They did find a way through with five minutes left as McLeod slipped in Barrie McKay, but the young substitute's goalbound shot was excellently stopped by the keeper.

Caley Thistle's advance to the semi-final was a deserved one, while Rangers must now aim to keep their cup hopes alive on Saturday when Alloa visit in the Scottish Cup.

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (6)

Rangers

01 Alexander Booked
02 Christopher Hegarty
03 Cribari Booked
04 Perry (Argiriou - 46' )
05 Wallace
10 Hutton (Kyle - 62' )
08 Black Booked
11 MacLeod
06 McCulloch
07 Little Booked
09 Shiels (McKay - 62' )

Substitutes

16 Gallacher
12 Argiriou
15 Aird
14 Kyle
17 McKay

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

12 Reguero
02 Raven Booked
03 Shinnie
05 Warren
14 Meekings
04 Tudur-Jones
08 Draper
10 Shinnie (Foran - 88' )
07 McKay Booked (Pepper - 90' )
17 Doran
23 Roberts (Sutherland - 82' )

Substitutes

01 Esson
32 Cooper
22 Pepper
09 Foran
18 Sutherland

Ref: Mclean

Att: 28,033

Match Stats

Possession 50 50

Shots

13 11

On target

4 9

Corners

2 5

Fouls

19 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:08 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +1:50

Foul by Conor Pepper on Lee Wallace, free kick awarded. Neil Alexander restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:50

The ball is crossed by Andrew Little, Headed from the edge of the area by Barry McKay goes wide of the left-hand post.

89:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richie Foran by Kevin Kyle. David Raven takes the direct free kick.

89:05 Substitution

Substitution Billy McKay leaves the field to be replaced by Conor Pepper.

88:39

Lewis Macleod takes a shot. Blocked by David Raven.

87:10

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Aaron Doran, clearance by Kevin Kyle.

87:10 Substitution

Substitution Richie Foran joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andrew Shinnie.

86:30

Free kick taken by Josh Meekings.

86:30 Booking

Booking Andrew Little is shown a yellow card.

86:06

Unfair challenge on Shane Sutherland by Andrew Little results in a free kick.

84:28

Barry McKay takes a shot. Save made by Antonio Reguero.

82:29

Shot from just outside the box by Andrew Shinnie goes over the bar.

81:49 Substitution

Substitution Philip Roberts leaves the field to be replaced by Shane Sutherland.

81:38

Aaron Doran has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

80:49

Philip Roberts takes a shot. Save made by Neil Alexander.

79:34

Barry McKay fouled by Josh Meekings, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Anestis Argyriou.

78:27

Assist on the goal came from Andrew Shinnie.

78:03 Goal scored

Goal - Graeme Shinnie - Rangers 0 - 3 Inverness Placed penalty scored by Graeme Shinnie. Rangers 0-3 Inverness CT.

77:37 Booking

Booking Caution for Neil Alexander.

76:49

Anestis Argyriou gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie.

75:09

Unfair challenge on Ross Draper by Ian Black results in a free kick. Josh Meekings restarts play with the free kick.

73:48

Direct free kick taken by Graeme Shinnie.

73:48 Booking

Booking Ian Black is given a yellow card.