THE fact that Rangers beat Dunfermline to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup at Ibrox was no surprise. The manner of the victory was certainly unexpected, though.

Pedro Caixinha stated his belief pre-match that his side would start to convert a greater number of the chances that they were creating. On a sun-kissed evening at Ibrox, they did just that, and in some style.

This encounter was as one-sided as the 6-0 score line suggests. It was a dominant display from the Light Blues, with their visitors left to lick their wounds as they headed back to East End Park defeated and deflated.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha: Ibrox brace will be the first of many Rangers goals for Alfredo Morelos

Caixinha resisted the urge to make wholesale changes to the side that beat Motherwell at the weekend but there were a couple of fresh faces for the Ibrox crowd to cast their eye over. Jak Alnwick replaced Wes Foderingham in goal, while James Tavernier returned at right-back and Jordan Rossiter got a much-needed start. There was also a place for Alfredo Morelos as he joined Kenny Miller in attack.

By the time the teams emerged from the tunnel, there had been one further alteration to the Gers line-up, with Lee Hodson a late stand-in for captain Lee Wallace. It was a blow to Rangers, but it wasn’t one that was going to prove costly.

Dunfermline’s resistance lasted just four minutes and by the time the clock ticked over to 26 the scoreboard read 4-0. The job was already done, and with some ease.

It was Miller that got things off and running, the move that opened the floodgates symptomatic of the way that Rangers moved the ball about in the early stages.

The 37-year-old played a neat pass that found Morelos in behind the Pars defence and his cutback was met by Graham Dorrans. The midfielder saw his shot blocked, but Miller collected the rebound and picked a spot in the roof of Sean Murdoch’s net.

An offside flag denied Miller a second just minutes later but Rangers didn’t have to wait long to double their lead. This one was arguably the pick of the bunch.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha: Ibrox brace will be the first of many Rangers goals for Alfredo Morelos

Morelos was again involved as he was fouled on the edge of the area. As Bruno Alves stepped up, the crowd chanted his name in anticipation. They soon roared in celebration as the defender curled a free-kick in at the near post before he sprinted to the dugout in delight.

It was shaping up to be a long, tough night for Allan Johnston and his players and a Declan McManus free-kick that hit the bar was as close as they would come during the first half.

There were chances for Tavernier and Hodson as the right-back fired just wide of target and his fellow defender lifted a shot just over after Murdoch had thwarted Josh Windass. The third goal soon arrived, though.

It was Morelos who got in on the act this time. Miller’s pass split the Pars defence and the Colombian made no mistake with only Murdoch to beat. As the Pars keeper collected the ball once again, Morelos celebrated his first goal in Light Blue with the fans in the Broomloan.

He should have doubled his tally seconds later but he scooped a shot over from the middle of the box after Tavernier’s cross. Having shown little in his Gers career to date, this was a glimpse of what he could be capable of this term.

Caixinha’s side were in cruise control now and Tavernier turned from potential provider to scorer after 26 minutes as Rangers made it 4-0. Dorrans fed Miller and the striker slipped the ball through for the right-back to collect before he finished with ease.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha: Ibrox brace will be the first of many Rangers goals for Alfredo Morelos

When Johnston turned to his bench to introduce Jean Yves Mvoto in place of David Hopkirk, it was a sign that Dunfermline were in damage limitation mode. Mercifully for the visitors, their porous defences weren’t breached again before referee Don Robertson brought an entertaining first half to a close.

Rangers picked up where they left off after the break, with Miller finding the side netting after Alves tried his luck with another free-kick. He didn’t get a third crack at it as he was replaced by Danny Wilson but Daniel Candeias showed his dead ball technique as he found the top corner with a terrific strike to make it 5-0.

The final half an hour gave Caixinha a chance to introduce Niko Kranjcar as he returned from injury and assumed the armband when he replaced Miller. The striker received a rousing reception from the Ibrox crowd, while there was a warm welcome for former Ger Dean Shiels.

There was no let up from Rangers as Morelos and Windass both tried their luck before the arrival of Jason Holt signalled the end of the evening for Dorrans after another accomplished performance in the middle of the park.

With 15 minutes remaining, Morelos got his second of the night. Tavernier could have doubled his tally as he waltzed into the box but his shot was parried into the path of the 20-year-old and he converted with ease. And that was that.

Having being humbled on their return to European action and gotten their Premiership campaign off to a solid start already this season, this was the kind of performance and result that Rangers needed as they began their bid for League Cup glory.

It wasn’t the sternest test that Caixinha’s side will face this term but it was one that was passed with flying colours and that produced plenty of positives.

The visit of Hibernian at the weekend will be a far different occasion. The bar has now been set for Rangers, though.