Rangers 2020/21 Scottish Cup campaign is about to commence.
Steven Gerrard’s men are out to end a 12 year drought, to bring the cup back to Ibrox for the first time since May 2009 when Nacho Novo score the only goal of the game – and a cracker it was – as Falkirk were defeated 1-0.
Since then it has been a case of what-if, nowhere near and the one that got away – think 2016 v Hibs.
It terms of the third or fourth round, as it was, when Rangers usually get their action underway, how many of these ties can you remember from the last few years?
2010/11 – Rangers 3 Kilmarnock 0 – Scorers, McCulloch, Lafferty, Whittaker (pen).
In Walter Smith’s last term, the Gers met Celtic in the fifth round – after a 2-2 stalemate at Ibrox, the replay at Parkhead was won 1-0 by the hosts.
2011/12 – Arbroath 0 Rangers 4 – Scorers, Healy, Wedderburn (OG), Jelavic, Kerkar.
In a year to forget, Rangers were elimanted in the next round at home to Dundee Utd, 0-2 – the week after would see the club enter administration, signalling a very dark period.
2014/15 – Dumbarton 0 Rangers 1 – Scorers, Boyd.
Then First Division Rangers beat the Sons, before knocking out Premier League Kilmarnock. In the Fifth Round, Raith Rovers came to Ibrox and won 1-2 as the storm clouds were gathering on and off the pitch
2018 – Fraserburgh 0 Rangers 3 – Scorers, Windass (3)
On a Wednesday night in late January 2018, a long journey north saw Graeme Murty’s side ease past the Highland League team. Ayr United and Falkirk would be negotiated before Rangers took a sore 0-4 beating against Celtic. The incoming Steven Gerrard era would soon begin to ease the pain.