With high-pressure encounter after high-pressure encounter, and with injuries limiting Philippe Clement’s options, a cup clash against fifth-tier Fraserburgh came at a pretty nice time for Rangers.
And, after speaking about the toll the gruelling schedule had taken on his squad, the Rangers boss seized the chance to shuffle his pack with a pair of make-or-break Europa League encounters requiring Vaclav Cerny, Hamza Igamane and co to be at their sharpest.
Mason Munn made his Rangers debut in goal, replacing Liam Kelly. Connor Barron, Ross McCausland and hat-trick hero Cyriel Dessers were also back in Clement’s XI, while Zak Lovelace, Bailey Rice and Findlay Curtis were rewarded after making serious progress with the club’s academy in recent months.
Philippe Clement picked Lovelace and Rice ahead of Rabbi Matondo and Kieran Dowell during the 3-0 hammering of Aberdeen last week.
Lovelace has been in outstanding form for Rangers’ B team recently – he has twice scored winners against Old Firm rivals Celtic over the last month – while 18-year-old duo Rice and Curtis could legitimately be first-picks in the Gers midfield for years to come.
And Barron, only slightly older than the teen pair himself, could not speak highly enough of Rice and Curtis as both staked their claim for more regular minutes off the bench in a 5-0 victory which sets up a fifth-round clash with Queens’ Park at Ibrox.
Connor Barron praises Findlay Curtis after Rangers’ Fraserburgh win
“I thought it was a professional performance from the boys,” Barron said at full-time, Dessers hitting a treble against Fraserburgh while Nsiala and McCausland also found the net.
“We went about our work in the right way, which was a given should happen. We’re obviously a little bit disappointed at the little sniffs they had but that’s cup football. Sometimes it happens. But we’re pleased to be through to the next round, we’ve done our job.
“It’s brilliant to see the young boys getting their opportunity on the pitch and they’re taking it today as well. Bailey Rice and Findlay as well, I thought he was brilliant. It’s all of them that came in. So it’s good to see.”
Former Rangers ace Andy Halliday feels Clement should give Rice a more senior role in his plans, especially with the seldom-seen Dowell likely to depart over the summer.
As for Curtis, he was clearly not cowed by the Ibrox stage against Fraserburgh. The crafty creativity he so frequently displays at youth team level translating well onto the first-team, albeit against limited opposition.
Barron, meanwhile, started only his second game in 2025.
Barron highlights Rangers squad strength as Philippe Clement shuffles his pack
“As I’ve said before in previous interviews, I like to be a leader on the pitch,” said the former Aberdeen man, having fallen behind Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande in the pecking order recently.
“I like to do my best that I can. Whether that’s putting an arm around their shoulder or making sure they’re doing things properly, that’s just what you’ve got to do.”
“It shows the competitiveness in the squad,” Barron said. “It’s great to see. And it’s football. Sometimes you’re in, sometimes you’re out and you’ve just got to deal with it. And as I say, you’ve got a job to do as a Rangers player. You’ve got to be on it every day.
“So you’ve got to train even harder. You’ve got that extra desire and it’s brilliant to have that within the group. That’s what you need. And that’s how you’re going to become a top, top side.
“I think the manager knows what you can do. You’ve just got to keep doing what you’re good at and don’t forget that. I think that’s a massive thing. When any player comes out of the team, sometimes they forget what they’re good at and get lost in it, but it’s all to do with your mentality and making sure that you do things properly day in and day out.”
