Relieved Rangers respond to almighty Morton fright as Dessers and Danilo secure quarter final place - 3 talking points

Much-changed Rangers huffed and puffed before making the quarter finals of the Viaplay Cup after Morton gave them the fright of their lives at Ibrox.

Goals from Cyriel Dessers and sub Danilo broke the hearts of the gutsy Championship outfit which stunned the 38,943 crowd by taking the lead from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute. They couldn’t hold on as Rangers responded from the spot, with Dessers scoring in the absence of James Tavernier before the striker set up Danilo for the winner.

As expected, Rangers dominated possession and territory in the early stages, with Rabbi Matondo on the left wing seeing plenty of the ball. The Welshman created the first opportunity two minutes in, taking a crossfield pass from John Lundstram and driving into the box, where his shot was charged down by Darragh O’Connor.

But it took 14 minutes to work Jamie MacDonald in the Morton and when they did the keeper produced a superb instinct save to deny Dessers, whose touch on the chest and volley from Dujon Sterling’s cross was terrific.

And yet it was the visitors who almost struck first from a vicious 20 yard Robbie Muirhead free kick that forced Jack Butland into a smart save low to his right. Minutes later, Robbie Crawford was sprung on the counter and it took good cover from Johnly Yfeko to snuff out the danger.

Dessers thought he had opened the scoring in the 21st minute but ref David Dickinson ruled he’d wrestled Darragh O’Connor unfairly on getting onto the end of Sam Lammers' clever pass. Matondo then rounded MacDonald only for ex-Ger Kirk Broadfoot to get back and clear off the line.

The half ended with a fine save from MacDonald to deny Kieran Dowell’s sweetly struck free kick and Morton would have gone in delighted with their