Rangers powered their way through to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup after a comprehensive 4-0 win over Hapoel Tel-Aviv at Ibrox.

A double by Barry Ferguson and a Kris Boyd strike, in addition to a late counter by substitute Charlie Adam, gave the enthusiastic Govan side a 5-2 victory on aggregate.

However, the Scots side will have to go into the next round without 'keeper Allan McGregor who was sensationally sent off after the Ibrox men had notched the third goal through skipper Ferguson in the 72nd minute.

As the visitors tried to retrieve the ball to re-start the game McGregor foolishly got involved with Hapoel substitute Luciano De Bruno and was sent packing as the Hapoel player lay prostrate on the pitch.

Substitute keeper Stefan Klos had to replace striker Nacho Novo but Rangers still had enough with 10 men to make it four, Adam slotting home a Gavin Rae pass deep into injury time.

There can be no mistaking the inferiority of this competition in relation to the Champions League but given their poor season to date, manager Walter Smith and the Light Blues fans will be more than happy to continue their participation in Europe.

The Govan club certainly made every effort to get the fans worked up into a frenzy before the game and it paid off.

Every seat in the 50,000-plus capacity stadium had either a St Andrews cross or a Union flag laid on it which, along with an ear-splitting noise, made for a spectacular eruption as the two teams entered the fray.

Perhaps inspired by the pre-match hullabaloo, the Ibrox side started in a frenzy, with wide-men Chris Burke and Novo showing their intent with several driving runs.

But despite the Light Blues' bluster, there was enough fragility in evidence at the back to promise a nervy night for the home fans.

However, the opening goal from Ferguson within 24 minutes put an end to gently simmering tensions inside Ibrox.

Burke combined with Novo down the right and when the Spaniard hammered his cross into the penalty area the Ibrox skipper arrived on cue to slam home from 16 yards.

And 10 minutes later, after yet another glaring error by the visitors saw the home side double their lead.

After another Rangers attack had run out of steam, Hapoel skipper Yossi Abuksis inexplicably tried to play the ball across his own to box only to hit the lurking Boyd on the chest.

The ball fell kindly into the path of the Scotland striker who did what he does best, burying the ball low past the helpless Shavit Elimelech.

The rather scrappy and erratic match continued apace after the interval.

Hapoel showed enough in flashes to suggest they could get the goal that could take the game to the wire.

There was no doubting the anxiety sweeping the stadium although fans' favourite Dado Prso was brought on for Boyd just after the hour mark in an attempt to gee the home support up.

And the move paid off in the 72nd minute when, with the help of yet another mistake the from the visitors, the third goal arrived. Alan Hutton intercepted a slack pass from Yigal Antebi and the ball fell to Prso who simply forged ahead before crossing into Ferguson to slot past Elimelech from 10 yards out.

But before the game restarted, McGregor seemed to get involved in an altercation with substitute De Bruno.

After several moments of chaos, with the Hapoel player still on the ground, it emerged that McGregor had been sent off. Novo was then substituted for Klos and although the final moments took place amid a general din of angry Rangers fans, the home side stretched their lead in injury time when Adam, on for Brahim Hemdani, slotted away the fourth.

Teams:

Rangers McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Hemdani, Murray, Ferguson,Rae, Thomson, Burke (Adam 90), Boyd (Prso 64), Novo (Klos 75).

Subs Not Used: Sionko, Sebo, McMillan, Perry.

Sent Off: McGregor (74).

Booked: Rae, Novo, Murray.

Goals: Ferguson 24, Boyd 35, Ferguson 73, Adam 90.

Hapoel Tel-Aviv Elimelech, Bondar, Doani, Antebi, Badir,Dago (De Bruno 46), Abuksis (Vermot 65), Wellington (Jolic 80),Toama, Ogbona, Barda.

Subs Not Used: Ben Shaanan, Chen, Abutbul, Peretz.

Booked: Doani, De Bruno.

Agg (5-2)

Att: 46,213

Ref: Matteo Trefoloni (Italy).