IT is progress rather than points, match minutes rather than medals that are, more often than not, the most important factors for Rangers at Under-20 level this term.

This was one of the exceptions, however. It was a different test to the ones they are becoming accustomed to, but it was one that was passed at Ibrox.

Rangers have faced some of the brightest talents in British and European football in recent weeks as part of their new games programme at youth level. It is a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained as they approach the development of players from a different perspective.

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A chance to earn SFA Youth Cup silverware is still part of the blueprint, though, and it was that aim that was at the forefront of their minds as their peers from Partick Thistle made the journey across Glasgow on a cold, dreich night.

Rangers have drawn with the likes of Feyenoord, Manchester City and AZ Alkmaar on the road so far this term but their results on home soil have been less than encouraging as they have gone down to Brighton, Leicester and Liverpool.

After seeing off KV Mechelen and then beating Berwick Rangers in Steven Notman’s testimonial, the Jags provided a more familiar test to the Light Blues’ second string.

Rangers were without the likes of Ross McCrorie and Ryan Hardie as they prepare for the Premiership clash with Dundee as part of Graeme Murty’s squad.

But the Gers were still able to field youngsters with first team experience as Aidan Wilson skippered the side and Jamie Barjonas took his place in the middle of the park.

With 20s boss Murty otherwise occupied at present as he fills in at first team level, Billy Kirkwood was on dugout duty here as he looked to lead the Gers into the fourth round.

But there was little in the opening 45 minutes as Firhill gaffer Alan Archibald and assistant Scott Paterson cast their eye over the next batch of kids aiming to establish themselves in red and yellow.

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A tame effort from Neil McLaughlin and another that was ruled out for offside were as close as Thistle would come in the first half, and there wasn’t much to be encouraged about from a Rangers’ perspective either as the Light Blues’ creative players struggled to make an impression on proceedings.

Murty watched on from the Director’s Box alongside Head of Academy Craig Mulholland and striker Kenny Miller and would have been expecting a much-improved showing from his Colts.

And they didn’t have to wait long after the interval to see the opening goal of the game as Zak Rudden found the bottom corner of Jamie Stevenson’s net from inside the area.

It was the spark that the tie needed and Rudden tried his luck from distance minutes later before Wright gathered a speculative long-range effort from Andrew McCarthy.

The game looked like it was beyond Thistle’s reach as Rangers worked a short corner and Andy Dallas fired a shot beyond Stevenson to double the Light Blues’ lead.

But the Jags were given a glimmer of hope heading into the final quarter of an hour as McLaughlin coolly converted from the spot. Seconds later, the comeback was completed as the striker connected with a Harry Granger header and swept the ball into the net to send the game to extra time.

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Rangers came close through Rudden and Cameron Palmer early on but it was Serge Atakayi that got the fifth of the night as he rifled home on the stroke of half-time.

McLaughlin spurned a chance to get his hat-trick as he scooped an effort over the bar and it was to prove costly for the Jags as Rudden beat Stevenson with a powerful low finish.

This time, there was no way back for Thistle and Dapo Mebude completed the scoring in the final seconds as Rangers kept their cup dreams alive at Ibrox.