Rangers Dominate Annan Athletic In Scottish Cup Clash

The Scottish Cup’s fourth round brought drama and expectation to Ibrox Stadium on January 16, 2026, as Rangers welcomed League Two’s Annan Athletic for a high-stakes single-leg tie. With memories of last season’s shock exit to Queen’s Park still lingering, Rangers approached the fixture with both caution and confidence, determined not to slip on another banana skin in front of their home fans.

Manager Danny Röhl, who took the reins after Philippe Clement’s tenure, made his intentions clear before kickoff: “In this game we also have to be very focused. We will rotate some positions, which is normal, as some players deserve an opportunity. I am convinced that the players who will play are prepared for this game and they have to be. We have prepared very seriously and we have used this week to manage the workload. Some players will not be in tomorrow’s squad because they have played a lot. It’s a cup match and all opponents can defend and play with passion. We hope that tomorrow will be the same, and we have to break down their defense as quickly as possible to create chances and score goals. But first, as always, we have to give it our all.”

True to his word, Röhl made sweeping changes, shuffling his starting eleven with as many as nine new faces compared to the previous 2-0 win over Aberdeen. Forgotten men Clinton Nsiala, Joe Rothwell, and Kieran Dowell were all handed rare starts. Only Jayden Meghoma and Djeidi Gassama kept their spots, underscoring the manager’s faith in squad depth. In a notable move, Liam Kelly donned the captain’s armband and replaced Jack Butland between the posts.

The Rangers’ lineup for the night featured Kelly, Aarons, Djiga, Nsiala, Meghoma, Rothwell, Dowell, Curtis, Danilo, Gassama, and Miovski. Annan Athletic, managed by Willie Gibson, lined up in a defensive 4-5-1 formation with Albinson, Hooper, Kilsby, Dixon, Muir, Watson, Smith, Smith, Muir, Maxwell, and Gibson. Both benches were well-stocked, with Rangers’ new signing Tochi Chukwuani among the substitutes, though fellow arrival Tuur Rommens was not yet match ready.

The match kicked off at 7:45 pm UK time, broadcast live on Premier Sports 2, and the early moments hinted at a lively contest. Annan’s Tommy Muir had the first sniff at goal, firing over in the fifth minute, but it was clear that Rangers were intent on asserting their dominance. Just five minutes later, Danilo threaded a pass to Bojan Miovski, who burst into the box and rifled a shot past Albinson to open the scoring. The Ibrox faithful roared as Miovski’s early strike set the tone for the evening.

Rangers continued to control possession and tempo, pressing high and keeping Annan pinned in their own half. The midfield duo of Rothwell and Dowell, both eager to impress, dictated play, while Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama provided width and energy. Annan, though disciplined and organized, struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Rangers’ backline—anchored by Nsiala and Djiga—snuffing out any threats.

The pressure told again in the 30th minute. On a swift counter-attack, Findlay Curtis received the ball on the right, surged into the penalty area, and delivered a pinpoint cross. Miovski, lurking in the six-yard box, rose highest and thundered a header into the net for his second goal of the night. With Rangers 2-0 up, there was a palpable sense of relief and celebration in the stands. Curtis nearly added his own name to the scoresheet ten minutes later, smashing a shot against the crossbar before the Annan defense scrambled the ball clear.

Despite the two-goal cushion, Rangers didn’t let up. They maintained their dominance through the first half, dictating play and keeping Annan’s attacking ambitions at bay. The visitors’ best chance came from a Tommy Muir header that drifted wide, but otherwise, Annan’s efforts were largely stifled. As the halftime whistle sounded, the scoreline read 2-0 in favor of the hosts, with Miovski the clear standout performer.

The significance of the fixture wasn’t lost on anyone in Ibrox. Last season’s Scottish Cup embarrassment was a fresh wound, and the message from both manager and players was one of respect for the opposition. Goalkeeper Liam Kelly, speaking before the match, emphasized, “We will give Annan every respect.” The approach was echoed by Scottish football writer Moira Gordon, who cautioned, “You don’t want to get too clever and move things around too much because you want to make sure the job is done and dusted.”

Former Premiership striker Cillian Sheridan, offering his take on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast, predicted a straightforward night for Rangers: “It’s completely different when Rangers are playing at home. You’re expected to win by a big margin. When you’re playing a team like that away it’s trickier. I think the game tonight will be about how many Rangers can score. If they’re not winning 4-0 or 5-0 it’s not a great result. I don’t really see this being a potential banana skin.”

Historically, Rangers have enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture. In their six previous meetings, the Glasgow giants had recorded four wins, one draw, and a single loss to Annan. Their only prior Scottish Cup encounter saw Rangers triumph 3-0 away from home. Coming into this match, Rangers were riding a wave of good form, boasting three consecutive wins in January—3-1 against Celtic, and back-to-back 2-0 victories over Aberdeen. Annan Athletic, meanwhile, arrived with two wins and a draw from their December fixtures, sitting seventh in Scottish League Two with 21 points.

Injuries forced Rangers to adapt, with Bailey Rice, Connor Barron, Derek Cornelius, Dujon Sterling, and Nedim Bajrami all sidelined. Yet, the squad’s depth was on full display, and Röhl’s rotation paid dividends in the opening forty-five minutes. Annan, for their part, fielded a full-strength lineup, hoping to spring a surprise and extend their Scottish Cup adventure.

As the second half loomed, the question was whether Rangers would press on for a more emphatic scoreline or whether Annan could muster a response. With player ratings open for fans and substitutions yet to be made, the match promised further twists and talking points. The Ibrox crowd, buoyed by a commanding performance so far, watched eagerly as the teams prepared to resume battle.

With the action ongoing at Ibrox, all eyes remain fixed on the unfolding drama as Rangers look to seal their place in the next round of the Scottish Cup, while Annan Athletic strive to defy the odds and script a memorable comeback.