Christian Nerlinger (right) opened the scoring for Rangers

Christian Nerlinger scored a hat-trick as Rangers ended a run of five games without a victory by convincingly easing aside Forfar Athletic in the CIS Insurance Cup.

Peter Lovenkrands, Nuno Capucho and Egil Ostenstad provided the other goals as the holders matched the scoreline achieved against the Second Division outfit just over a year ago in the Scottish Cup.

Rangers manager Alex McLeish took the opportunity to field some of his fringe players first-team experience.

Regular first-choice goalkeeper Stefan Klos was rested, being replaced by Allan McGregor, with Jesper Christiansen on the bench.

Maurice Ross, Stephen Hughes and Lovenkrands also started in place of Fernando Ricksen, Michael Ball and the injured Mikel Arteta.

Forfar boss Ray Stewart fielded the same 11 players that defeated East Fife in Division Two at the weekend.

Rangers dominated from the first whistle and Forfar goalkeeper Michael Brown was able to tip Paolo Vanoli's audacious 35-yard drive over the crossbar.

Hughes unleashed a shot from the edge of the area that fell inches wide of the post.

The breakthrough came after 14 minutes, when Egil Ostenstad fed the ball through to Nerlinger and the German midfielder drove the ball past Brown and into the back of the net.

Rangers doubled their advantage after 21 minutes.

Nuno Capucho played a one-two with Ostenstad before squaring the ball into the path of Peter Lovenkrands for the Danish winger to slot the ball home from six yards.

Lovenkrands then struck the post with a header before Forfar created their first chance.

Egil Ostenstad scored his first goal for Rangers

Craig Moore tried to clear a Paul Tosh ball into the box, it fell to the feet of Hugh Davidson, but the forward squandered a glorious chance by sending his shot well over.

McLeish replaced Ross with Fernando Ricksen at half-time, but that did not disrupt Rangers as they added their third goal after 49 minutes.

Brown did well to block Ostenstad's initial shot, but that left the goalmouth wide open for Capucho to nod home.

Rangers heaped more misery on their Second Division visitors four minutes later, Ostenstad flicking the ball on to Nerlinger to fire past Brown from 10 yards.

The German completed his hat-trick in style by sending his half volley past Brown from 16 yards out after 69 minutes.

Ostenstad finally got the goal his efforts deserved after 75 minutes.

Rangers: McGregor, Ross (Duffy 85), Khizanishvili, Moore, Vanoli (Ricksen 45), Emerson, Hughes, Nerlinger, Capucho, Ostenstad, Lovenkrands (Burke 78).
Subs Not Used: Christiansen, Berg.

Booked: Emerson.

Goals: Nerlinger 15, Lovenkrands 22, Capucho 50, Nerlinger 53, 70, Ostenstad 75.

Forfar: Brown, Lunan (Maher 60), Horn (McClune 63), Stewart (Lowing 51), Rattray, Byers, Sellars, Davidson, Henderson, Tosh, Shields.
Subs Not Used: Neal Ferrie, Taylor.

Attendance: 26,327

Referee: S Dougal