THE McCoist household would have been a happier place last night.
Home life has provided a respite for Ally McCoist of late but he had reason to celebrate yesterday after seeing Rangers reach the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup with victory over Kilmarnock.
The pressure has been on the Ibrox manager from all quarters, the aftermath of the defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle difficult to cope with as questions have been asked and answers sought.
McCoist revealed before the cup-tie with Kilmarnock that the company of his five sons and time away from the public gaze and training field have helped him through arguably the most testing week, in football terms, of his managerial tenure.
A break from the Championship title race, tactics, performances and criticism - and that is before you factor in the myriad off-field problems at Ibrox - has been more than welcome for McCoist the family man.
Days after targeting their manager with abuse at Tynecastle, Rangers supporters had a far more positive reason to make their voice heard yesterday, although fewer than 15,000 turned out to see their side in action.
Two superb strikes from Nicky Law either side of Kris Boyd's eighth goal of the campaign clinched victory and, with one trip to Hampden to look forward to already next year, moved them another step closer to the same venue as they continued their quest for silverware on four fronts.
Rangers have turned in two of their best performances of the campaign against SPFL Premiership opposition this season, the wins over Inverness Caledonian Thistle and St Johnstone helping them on their way to the League Cup semi-finals, and again found the step up in class comfortable to cope with as they completed a top-flight hat trick.
It took McCoist's side 18 minutes to break the deadlock, taking a deserved lead as Law collected Fraser Aird's lay-off to curl the ball beyond Craig Samson. His strike did take a slight deflection on its way into the net but that didn't bother the midfielder as he wheeled away to celebrate.
Law has at times come in for criticism for his performances this season but this strike, more typical of the former Motherwell man, was his eighth of the campaign. In a team that so often lacks creativity and a spark, it was a reminder of what he can do.
Law's effort was the goal Rangers' play merited but they could not add to their tally before the break.
Lewis Macleod tested Samson with a dipping effort from range before referee Brian Colvin had big decisions to make as Rangers appealed for penalties.
Their first appeal brought the loudest protestations from the Ibrox stands as Ross Barbour took out Kenny Miller before Jon Daly felt he was impeded as he grappled with the Kilmarnock defence inside the area. A call for handball also brought no reward for Rangers.
By then, the home side were sensing that one more goal might be enough to secure their place in the next round but as Ian Black shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box and Daly could only find Samson's arms from a similar range, a shot-shy Kilmarnock were let off the hook.
Alexei Eremenko's effort, which took a nick off Lee McCulloch and went wide of Steve Simonsen's post, and a couple of corners were the sum of the Ayrshire side's threat as Rangers looked comfortable and in control.
The visitors continued to huff and puff but Rangers too looked short of steam for a period after the break as a couple of half-chances came and went, the Miller and Daly partnership working hard but not looking overly threatening.
It was no surprise then to see McCoist look to spark his side into life from the bench, Boyd and Nicky Clark taking up the attacking mantle as they searched for the goal to finally kill off Kilmarnock.
The Ibrox manager did not have to wait long. Shortly after his introduction, Boyd booked Rangers' place in the fifth round as he scored against his former club, his shot too powerful for Samson after the goalkeeper rushed from his line.
And with seven minutes remaining, Samson had to pick the ball out of his net once again.
For the second time of the afternoon, it was Law whose effort hit home. This strike was even better than the first, but just as effective, as he wrapped his foot around the ball and found the far corner of the net.
It was a fitting way to cap an accomplished performance from player and team.
After a fortnight to forget, Rangers rediscovered that winning formula and it came not a moment too soon for McCoist.
His critics will not have been won over, but at least he could go home to his biggest fans with a smile on his face once again.
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