“Basically invisible” – Five things we learned against Cowdenbeath

After another 90 minutes, this time of cup action, Ibrox Noise takes you through the latest compilation of titbits we can take after eking safe passage to face Killie. How many do you agree with?

1: Wes Foderingham was a mess. This guy has produced individually great saves for Rangers this season, but in this one he was a bit all over the place. Just completely unconvincing and if he’d wanted to use this as a shop window for a move today he’s probably put most suitors off. In one 90 minutes Rangers can see the difference with McGregor – even the new number one’s shakier displays are far better than anything Wes can offer.

2: Few if any of the fringe players impressed. Flanagan, as we said last night, was poor, while Coulibaly did very little of note bar his goal. Defoe was basically invisible again and Davis had a quiet night. Kyle Lafferty did manage a pretty decent strike though and didn’t do his chances too much harm – not sure if it’ll usurp Morelos but hey.

3: Andy Halliday was ruthlessly dropped by Gerrard for no reason at all – and he was determined to show that. And guess what – best player in blue by a distance, not even including his stellar goal. Halliday can do no more than what he is, and as long as he is playing as well as this, quite frankly the selection of Barisic is unjust. It is a ‘nice’ problem to have – two potentially outstanding left backs.

4: The first half was clinical from Rangers – 5 shots, all on target and 3 goals with 72% possession. Second half was a bit different but that first half did point to an efficient Rangers team getting the job done professionally.

5: Once again a conceded goal has seen Gerrard’s men unravel. Cowdenbeath were dangerous in the second half, ridiculously so, and once the bad call for a penalty had been made, Rangers struggled to keep their composure. It’s a recurring theme – there seems to be a character defect when Gerrard’s side concede. It was never more evident than at Rugby Park. We lack mental strength – a better side than Cowdenbeath may have won that last night – and indeed did in the form of Killie.

We will have more match reaction later today, but for now, which ones do you agree with?