IT was a day and a cup tie that had all the ingredients for a shock as League One Ayr went head-to-head with their Premiership visitors. For a brief moment, perhaps even Graeme Murty would have feared the worst.

In the end, he had nothing to worry about, though. Ayr may have landed the first blow, but it was Rangers that delivered half a dozen knockout ones as they progressed through to the quarter-finals.

The wind blew, the sun shone and the snow fell around the old school Somerset Park. This was some way from Hampden in May but, having overcome Fraserburgh on a freezing night at Bellslea Park, it was another test of character for Rangers.

It was one that they passed with ease in the end as Alfredo Morelos and Josh Windass scored doubles, Jason Cummings got his second goal in Light Blue and Jamie Murphy his first for his boyhood heroes.

Murty spoke about what a Scottish Cup win would mean to the club and the Light Blue legions as he looked ahead to the meeting with the Honest Men and the team he selected showed just how seriously he was taking the fifth round clash.

He made just two changes from the side that beat Partick Thistle in midweek, with Greg Docherty handed his first start for his boyhood heroes and Morelos coming back into the team as he joined Jason Cummings in attack.

Murty would have been looking for an assured opening spell from his side but Rangers quickly found themselves on the back foot. Not for the first time this term, the damage was self-inflicted.

David Bates elected to play the ball back to Wes Foderingham from the right side of the box but the keeper didn’t clear at the first attempt. As he waited, Forrest closed in and soon the ball was in the net as his pressure and perseverance paid off.

It was a nightmare moment for the Ibrox keeper and a mistake that left Rangers in just the kind of situation they would have been so eager to avoid before kick-off as Ayr, already high in confidence, had a lead to hold on to. Thankfully for the Ibrox boss, the afternoon wouldn’t get any worse than this.

His opposite number Ian McCall was forced to miss the game after undergoing eye surgery in midweek but the action made pleasant viewing for him and assistant Neil Scally as he led the side from the dugout.

Rangers had enough of the ball as they tried to get themselves level but a Sean Goss free-kick was straight at the wall before Russell Martin headed just wide from a Bates cross.

It was Windass that was next to try his luck. The midfielder timed his run well as he was picked out by James Tavernier but his header came back off the bar as Ayr breathed a sigh of relief.

They had another let-off a couple of minutes later, but their respite didn’t last long as Morelos missed a sitter and then pulled Rangers level.

The Colombian was mocked by the fans behind the goal as he was found by Docherty and somehow scooped the ball over the bar from a couple of yards out. He had the last laugh, though.

Goss was unlucky not to find the top corner as a superb curling effort struck the woodwork but Morelos was in the right place at the right time as he converted into an empty net.

It was just the reaction that Murty would have wanted from the striker and, overall, Rangers had shown no ill-effects of their early setback. They were on top for spells, but they were far from comfortable as the hail and the snow started to swirl around Somerset Park.

The Gers emerged from the dressing room after the break with plenty of work still to do but the ground staff had already put a shift in as they cleared the lines to ensure the action could get back underway.

Rangers had to step it up if they were to avoid a scare but they almost started the second half in the same way as the first. This time, Declan McDaid couldn’t capitalise on some slack defending or hesitancy from Foderingham, though.

Once again, Murty’s side settled into their stride and applied plenty of pressure. A couple of half-chances came to nothing, while Murphy was denied by the offside flag.

Murty would have felt the decisive moment was coming and three arrived in quick succession as Rangers put the tie to bed.

Cummings got the first as diverted a Goss cross into the net with a deft touch. It wasn’t a conventional finish, but it was a quality one as he improvised to give Rangers the lead.

That was the goal that took deflated Ayr. The next two took the game well outwith their reach.

Windass got the Gers’ third of the game with a cool finish from six yards after Murphy and Declan John combined down the left and a cross from the Welshman was spilled.

Then Morelos doubled his tally for the afternoon. Murphy got the assist this time and the Colombian made no mistake from close range as he continued his fine form in front of goal.

That was that as far as the tie was concerned but Rangers weren’t finished just yet. Windass nodded home a Goss cross for his second of the game before Murphy got off and running for his boyhood heroes with a couple of minutes left.

In the end, it was all so comfortable for Rangers. Once again, the game was won and the job was done.