Rangers 1-0 St Johnstone

Rangers put another week of off-field drama behind them as Lewis Macleod's late goal gave them a 1-0 League Cup quarter-final victory over St Johnstone at Ibrox. While the pre-match headlines were dominated by Mike Ashley's power grab, Ally McCoist's side had to focus on beating last season's William Hill Scottish Cup winners. It was not pretty but the crisis-hit Glasgow giants got the job done after Macleod glanced home a header just four minutes from time. Gers had to do it without the usual noisy backing of their home support as the angry Light Blues faithful boycotted the match. There were just 13,023 inside the ground, while around 100 members of the Sons of Struth group protested outside the front door on Edmiston Drive. They were unhappy about the club's decision to accept a £2million loan from controversial Newcastle United owner Ashley - a move which effectively hands him control of the club. His two right-hand men, Derek Llambias and Sports Direct Head of Brands Barry Leach, watched the match from the directors box after both were brought in as consultants to the board. On the field, there was about as little quality as there was bums on seats but Macleod's goal, finished off after Fraser Aird had swung in a cross from the left, was enough to beat Tommy Wright's team. It was the midfielder's seventh of the season and guarantees Rangers a place in Saturday's semi-final draw. With so few fans in attendance, it was a strangely eerie atmosphere which greeted the teams. It was nothing like the usual hell-for-leather cup clash that Ibrox had played host to over the years. But Rangers almost had those who did turn up cheering early on. First striker Kenny Miller fluffed a acrobatic scissors-kick, while Kris Boyd wasted a more clear-cut opportunity as he blasted straight at Alan Mannus after being put clean through on the Saints keeper by Macleod's defence-splitting pass. There was a worrying sight for Perth boss Wright after 21 minutes, however, as Murray Davidson had to be taken to hospital after sustaining a nasty cut above the eye after being accidentally struck in the face by Nicky Law's boot. Northern Irishman Wright was left looking through the cracks in his fingers again three minutes before the break as his side blew their best chance of the match. Lee Croft pounced on Lee Wallace's loose pass before standing up a perfect cross to the back post for Frazer Wright, who should have done much better than put a free header over the bar. The Saints defender was Saints saviour, though, three minutes into the second half as he blocked Boyd after Macleod had set the striker up again. Rangers, meanwhile, had to rely on two reflex saves from Steve Simonsen to keep the game level, first as he got a finger tip to Michael O'Halloran's angled strike before turning away Brian Graham's header from the corner that followed. That was the keeper's last involvement, though, after he clattered his head against his left-hand post denying the on-loan Dundee United striker. The Englishman left on a stretcher wearing a neck brace, meaning back-up stopper Lee Robinson was handed his second Rangers debut - eight years on from the only run-out of his first Ibrox stint. But his first act almost handed Saints an opening as he ran into Darren McGregor outside his box. He had to thank his lucky stars that the defender was able to boot clear before O'Halloran could pounce on the loose ball. Jon Daly replaced Boyd with 20 minutes left and - with his first touch - almost put Rangers ahead as he thudded a firm header against Mannus' right-hand post after Macleod picked him out with a free-kick over in the far corner. The hosts thought they had the opener from another Macleod set-piece with 10 minutes remaining as McCulloch headed home, only for an offside flag to curtail his celebrations. But there was no holding Macleod back as he nodded home his late winner from Aird's deep cross with just four minutes remaining to seal victory.