Alloa 1 Rangers 5

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Rangers continued their prolific start to life under Mark Warburton as they surged to the summit of the Championship with a 5-1 win over Alloa.

A breathless start to proceedings saw three goals in the opening 10 minutes, with a Michael Chopra stunner sandwiched between James Tavernier's opener and a Martyn Waghorn penalty.

The game was ended as a contest prior to half-time thanks to a close-range finish by Jason Holt and a deserved tap-in for the busy Kenny Miller. The former Scotland striker rounded off the scoring with his second of the game after 85 minutes.

Rangers have now netted 17 goals in four competitive games under Warburton, with eight different scorers.

The much-maligned synthetic surface at the Indodrill Stadium was not a happy hunting ground for the Gers last term, with the Ibrox men winning just one of their three visits and succumbing to an embarrassing Petrofac Training Cup defeat last November.

However, there was never any sign of them faltering again, and the visitors' triumph could have been far more emphatic with Miller and Waghorn both striking the woodwork.

It took just five minutes for Rangers to claim the lead. Miller found a pocket of space in midfield and slipped the ball to Nicky Law, whose reverse through-ball was perfect for the marauding Tavernier to lash the ball into the roof of the net.

Alloa's response was swift and spectacular. Graeme Holmes chipped a hopeful pass over the flat Gers back line and Chopra connected sweetly with the ball dropping over his shoulder to volley beyond the helpless Wes Foderingham.

However, parity did not last for long. Holt was hauled down inside the box, with referee Crawford Allan pointing to the penalty spot without hesitation and Waghorn stepped up to send Andy McNeil the wrong way.

Alloa had the woodwork to thank for keeping the score respectable, with Waghorn crashing a point-blank drive against the underside of the crossbar, before Miller curled an effort against the post.

However, the game was put to bed prior to the interval with a clinical quickfire double. Holt made it 3-1 after 40 minutes, smashing home after McNeil parried a ferocious low shot by Lee Wallace, who had been confirmed as the new Rangers club captain just prior to kick-off. A rout appeared on the cards when Miller added his name to the scoresheet, converting a Tavernier cross from close range.

Nathan Oduwa was thrown on for his Rangers debut following his arrival from Tottenham last week as the second half failed to live up to the thrills and spills of the first period.

However, they added gloss to the scoreline, with Miller prodding home from six yards following a cross-cum-shot by Tavernier which was teed up by a super Oduwa surge into the box.

Tavernier and Nicky Clark both saw goals disallowed in the dying embers as Alloa welcomed the respite of the full-time whistle.