Rangers blasted Airdrieonians out of the League Cup with three goals in the first 15 minutes and never looked back.

It was an immediate debut for Scott Smith, on loan from Dundee United, while new signing Adam Brown was on the bench.

A soft free kick on the right saw Andy Halliday curl a low cross to the front post and Nicky Clark was quickest to the ball to pass the ball into the net for the opening goal.

Rangers enjoyed the bulk of possession with Airdrie retreating on too many occasions.

It was no surprise when they added a second goal in quarter of an hour, with Halliday hammering the ball past Neil Parry from 20 yards.

A minute later a crossfield pass picked out Martyn Waghorn who threaded the ball past Chris O’Neil, then drilled a low shot into the net past Parry.

With 18 minutes gone, Waghorn cut past O’Neil again, then curled the ball wide of Parry’s far post.

With 26 minutes on the clock Nathan Oduwa was next up, though his angled 20 yard effort was well taken by Parry.

Parry gathered Halliday’s 40th minute free kick in cleanly with several players coming in.

As the half time whistle approached a powerful cross from the right was headed by across goal by Alan Lithgow and Sean Crighton’s header was on target but gathered by Wes Foderingham, in Airdrie’s only first half threat.

A minute after the restart, Jamie Bain’s delivery into the box was chested forward by Bryan Prunty and his angled shot was just over Foderingham’s goal.

In 52 minutes David Cox fired a first time effort just off target, from a powerful ball down the line by O’Neil.

Crighton went close in 61 minutes from Liam Watt’s corner, watching as his shot went wide of goal.

Halliday again found himself in space in 63 minutes. His powerful 20 yard effort hit the bar this time around.

With 8 minutes remaining Crighton’s angled header was just wide of the goal.

In 84 minutes Rangers bagged goal number four when Dean Shiels netted after a Parry save.

And it was five after Airdrie backed off, allowing James Tavernier to race into the box without a challenge and blast the ball past Parry, with two minutes left.

A better second half showing but there was no way back after the opening spell.

John O'Brien at New Broomfield.

Photographs © John Steven. Click to view full-size.