Rangers6

GI Gotu0

(Aggregate: 11-0)

RANGERS eased themselves through to the more critical, more dangerous second preliminary round of their European Champions' League campaign with this second victory over the part-timers from the Faroe Islands.

An astonishing 44,433 crowd were at Ibrox to see the Scottish champions play the first home game of their new campaign in Europe. Rangers had come into the match with a five-goal lead. Yet manager Walter Smith had underlined its importance in the constant bedding in of the new players who were purchased in the summer.

Smith had decided that this was one more opportunity for the new men to settle before the domestic season begins this weekend - for Rangers, of course, on Monday when they face Hearts.

They will go into that match without Paul Gascoigne. Last night the Englishman gave a memorable first-half display, knitting well with the Swedish World Cup captain Jonas Thern in midfield, just as predicted by manager Smith.

There were moments of magic from Gascoigne and one particular run which warmed the fans, and had them roaring his name in appreciation.

That came as the first half moved towards its close and Gascoigne went on a run from inside his own half, a run which carried him past half the Faroese team and deep into their penalty box, before he sent his final shot wide.

At the start of the second half Gascoigne did not appear, with Jorg Albertz taking his place. Perhaps Smith wanted to look towards his premier division formation or, perhaps, he wanted to protect Gascoigne from injury

The part-time Gotu players arrived at Ibrox hoping to stop the aggregate score reaching double figures. They did not succeed in that.

The game followed the pattern of the first leg. Then Rangers scored two goals before half-time to place the tie beyond doubt. Last night there was never any doubt, but Rangers took the same road towards victory.

By half time they were two goals in front, and by the end they had added more to push their aggregate into double figures.

There was strong Rangers pressure before the first goal arrived in 21 minutes, and it was Gascoigne who was at the heart of any threat.

However, it was Gordon Durie who broke the ice. A try from Marco Negri was blocked, the ball broke to Durie, and while his shot was partially stopped, its power carried the ball into the net.

Four minutes before half-time a Gascoigne free kick deceived the Faroese defence. Sergio Porrini sent the ball into the six-yard line and Negri was there to send the ball into goal.

After the break the goal procession continued. In 48 minutes Negri moved the ball out to the left to Albertz. The German crossed and Ally McCoist was there to head into goal.

Then Gotu had their only moments of attack when Simon Justinussen sent a shot off target and then Magni Jarnskor miskicked in front of goal. Then Rangers stepped up a gear.

In 58 minutes, Albertz scored the fourth with a free kick which the keeper reached but could not stop. Then, Porrini had a header saved and Rangers laid siege to the Gotu penalty box.

In 74 minutes McCoist missed a penalty, his shot was saved by Knudsen, but before the end he was able to push that aside, and shrug it off, as the Ibrox men scored two more goals.

In 84 minutes Ian Ferguson struck a low shot into goal from 20 yards.

Then Negri struck for his second goal of the game with a shot from just inside the penalty box which left the goalkeeper helpless and gave Rangers a sixth goal and an 11-0 winning aggregate.

The one problem Rangers had was a booking for Sergio Porrini. That meant that they already have four players booked over two games which never saw them stretched - and these bookings could count against them in the long haul of the Champions' League if they can move past Gothenberg - who drew 2-2 with Degerfors last night to remain top of the Swedish League on goal difference - in the next round.

After the dust had settled at Ibrox, man- ager Smith said he was pleased with the result: ''We never reached a great level of performance but scored six goals, and the two strikes from Marco Negri were typical of a real finisher.

''Paul Gascoigne took a slight thigh knock and Sergio Porrini had a groin injury and that's why we took them off.''

The Gotu coach, Pal Gudlavsson, commented: ''I thought my team tried to be positive and get some credit from the game but Rangers were very professional. I think they can do well in the rest of the tournament.''

Rangers - Niemi; Moore, Bjorklund; Porrini, Vidmar, Thern, Durie, Gascoigne, Negri, McCoist, Ferguson. Substitutes - Gattuso, Snelders, Durrant, Cleland, Albertz, Andersen, Miller.

GI Gotu: Knudsen; Rasmussen, H Jarnskor, Samal Joensen, Hanson, Hojgaard, M Jarnskor, S Justinussen, R Justinussen, J Olsen, Jurfoss. Subs: P Jarnskor, Heinason, S Olsen, Sunnvard Joensen, Magnusson, Jacobsen, Nesa.

Referee - R Lajuks, Latvia.