ROB KIERNAN reckons Rangers have the potential to score eight or nine goals in a match this season. They only needed the five against Airdrieonians.

The Ibrox defender predicted ahead of the trip to the Excelsior Stadium that Mark Warburton’s side will hit the goal trail and really hammer home their advantage at one stage this term and he may well be proven right before the end of the campaign.

Once again, Rangers created their fair share of chances and could, and should, have scored more than they did but the win was what really mattered here as they booked their place in the League Cup third round.

It was a comfortable evening at the office for Warburton and his players as they made it seven wins from seven games and again sent the Gers fans home more than happy after a polished performance against the Diamonds.

A night of shocks and near misses in this competition on Tuesday, gave Airdrieonians hope they might cause the biggest upset of all and halt Warburton’s side in their tracks.

There was never any real chance of that happening, though, and especially not after a first-half goal blitz that saw the Light Blues once again turn on the style as Nicky Clark, Andy Halliday and Martyn Waghorn all but settled the tie inside 18 minutes.

Having once again lauded Warburton and again sang about his magic headgear, Gers fans are now looking forward to the balls being pulled out of the hat at Hampden when the third-round draw is made on Thursday afternoon.

It will pit Rangers against a Premiership side for their toughest test of the campaign to date, but it is a challenge they will not fear, especially if they can replicate the kind of form they have shown in the opening weeks of the season.

The results so far have been the most important thing for Warburton but it is the manner of the wins that have endeared him to a fan base that for so long has been left frustrated with the performances served up by underperforming players.

Now, they are seeing a side in full flow, the passing crisp, the movement sharp and the goals coming thick and fast as Rangers have stormed out of the blocks.

Having already laid down a marker of their Championship title ambitions, and shown that they are deserved favourites for the silverware this season, it is likely to be the knock-out competitions will give Rangers a chance to see just how good they are.

Their performance last night was impressive, but they didn’t have to get out of second gear to see off their League One hosts as they strolled through the 90 minutes.

There will be tougher examinations to come but, for now, their only focus is on beating what is put in front of them.

Having all but finished his squad remodelling work, Warburton again took the opportunity to shuffle his pack last night, with Dominic Ball, the on-loan Spurs defender, handed his second start in a week after making his debut against Ayr United in the Petrofac Training Cup.

It was another night where it was hard to see just how good the defender is as he partnered Kiernan at the heart of the Gers’ rearguard but those in front of him certainly made the most of their opportunity to impress.

Rangers fans have been eagerly anticipating their chance to see Gedion Zelalem in action and the midfielder didn’t disappoint as he made his debut following a switch from Arsenal.

On a night when Warburton will again have positives and negatives to analyse and work on, Zelalem was certainly a bright spark as he showed why the Gers boss was so keen to bring him to Ibrox, and why he is so highly rated at the Emirates.

Comfortable on the ball, quick across the ground and with an eye for a pass, Zelalem fits the Warburton identikit well and, one wayward shot that was nearer the corner flag than the goal aside, he would have made a positive first impression on the Light Blue legions.

It was another player with a point to prove, Clark, that got Rangers off and running after just four minutes, however, as he converted Halliday’s free-kick at the front post and set the tone for the remainder of the match.

With a spring in their step, it didn’t take long for Rangers to put the tie to bed as they scored their second and third goals and showed the difference in class between them and the Diamonds.

It was Halliday who would double their advantage as Dean Shiels and Zelalem combined on the edge of the area and the midfielder rifled a sweetly struck shot into the bottom corner of Neil Parry’s net.

When Waghorn collected a perfectly weighted pass from Zelalem and showed his composure to make it 3-0, there was no way back for Gary Bollan’s side.

It could, and should, have got worse for the Airdrie boss but Waghorn fired wide, Nathan Oduwa straight at Parry and Ball over the bar as chances came and went for Rangers.

With the job done, it was understandable there would be a drop in the intensity from Warburton’s side as they saw the game out but they still had opportunities, Halliday rattling the bar from distance and Oduwa seeing a shot saved before James Tavernier fired a free-kick over.

Having started in style, Rangers finished with a flourish as Shiels netted at the second attempt after his shot was saved and Tavernier waltzed his way into the box and hit his fifth goal in seven games.

Once again, it was job done and game won for Warburton and Rangers.