WITH a seventh consecutive victory recorded in the most emphatic fashion, Mark Warburton’s ‘Magic Hat’, whatever that may be, remains the focus of attention for an energised Rangers support no longer associating trips to lower-league grounds with valium and panic attacks.

It is what happens when the Ibrox side go into an altogether different kind of hat for this afternoon’s draw for the third round of the League Cup, though, that will attract the attention of the wider footballing public.

Rangers, thanks to the seeding system employed, will face Premiership opposition when this tournament recommences in four weeks’ time. It is a fascinating prospect. With permanent signings settling well and the younger faces brought in on loan from the Barclays Premier League shaping up to be extremely worthwhile additions, they are ticking all the boxes at the moment.

Warburton, now just one short of the eight-win record set for a new manager by the legendary Bill Struth in 1920, is already well on the way to reaching mythical status within a fanbase just happy to have a team to feel proud of again. Competitive action against a side from a higher division will provide us all with a good yardstick of the progress he is actually making.

At the moment, it is tempting to see this as a side capable of actually winning a major trophy this term.

They blew poor Airdrie away with three goals in the opening 15 minutes from Nicky Clark, Andy Halliday and Martyn Waghorn. Standards dropped a little and there were some questions asked of a defence whose robustness remains uncertain before Dean Shiels scored the fourth with six minutes remaining and James Tavernier wrapped things up, but this was certainly another good night at the office.

Of many pleasing aspects for Warburton and his growing band of disciples was a fruitful debut for 18-year-old Gedion Zelalem, captured on a season-long loan from Arsenal earlier this week.

Upright and alert with an impressive range of passing, he was constantly involved in the play in his role to the left of Halliday in a three-man midfield and provided assists for two of his new club’s goals. A little shooting practice within the walls of Murray Park may be on the cards, however, in the wake of a sliced effort early in the second half that went out for a throw-in on the far side of the field after his quick feet had taken him past two home defenders into a good position 20 yards out.

Wastefulness was not a major problem for Rangers in this match, though, with the opening goal on four minutes a perfectly straightforward affair. Rangers had been awarded a free-kick on the right thanks to a clumsy foul by Jordan Morton on Waghorn. Halliday produced a dangerous low delivery with pace and Clark stole a march on Alan Lithgow to stick out a leg and direct the ball past goalkeeper Neil Parry.

The visitors’ second goal was a thing of beauty crafted from messy beginnings. Wes Foderingham, the visiting goalkeeper, had fluffed an attempted kick-out that Tavernier, midway inside his own half, could only nudge onto Waghorn on the right-hand side with his chest.

The former Wigan Athletic forward made telling inroads into opposition territory before passing to Zelalem, who, in turn, rolled the ball into the path of Halliday at the edge of the penalty box. From the moment his effort zipped off his left boot, there was no other possible destination than the corner of the net.

Within 60 seconds, Rangers had scored their third. Zelalem found Waghorn out right with a delightful 20-yard pass and the Englishman outstripped the Airdrie left-back, Chris O’Neil, before placing an effort past the exposed Parry with the side of his foot.

With Nathan Oduwa impressive again on the left, there are definitely a number of exciting attacking permutations within Warburton’s squad.

Doubts remain over the defence, though, and Airdrie did have opportunities either side of the interval.

Bryan Prunty saw a weak effort held by Foderingham in the dying moments of the first half when a cross from Morton, flicked on by Lithgow, caused a degree of consternation. In the opening moments of the second, he had a clear sight of goal again when moving onto a long ball from Jamie Bain that had gone over the top of Dominic Ball. His right-footed shot went wide of the near post, though.

Halliday did come close to uprooting the goal frame with a thunderous shot from 22 yards that crashed off the underside of the crossbar before Shiels pounced to score from the rebound after Parry had blocked his earlier shot and Tavernier, as is his wont, ensured another match ended with his name on the scoresheet thanks to a super run which ended with a splendid finish.

Airdrie: Parry; Bain, Crighton, Lithgow, O’Neil; Stewart, Watt, Smith (Brown 71), Morton; Prunty (Sumsky 60), Cox (Morgan 78).

Booked: O’Neil, Bain.

Rangers: Foderingham; Tavernier, Kiernan, Ball, Wallace; Zelalem, Halliday (McKay 71), Shiels; Waghorn (Hardie 61), Clark, Oduwa.

Scorers: Clark (4), Halliday (14), Waghorn (15), Shiels (84), Tavernier (88).

Referee: Euan Anderson.