Chris Sutton credits Pedro Caixinha for substitution during Rangers’ win over Partick

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Glasgow Rangers reached the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup as the Ibrox side beat Partick Thistle after extra-time.

Eduardo Herrera of Rangers celebrates after he scores his team’s third goal during the Betfred League Cup Quarter Final

Chris Sutton has praised Pedro Caixinha’s decision to replace Alfredo Morelos with Eduardo Herrera during Rangers’ League Cup tie with Partick during BT Sport’s live coverage of the Scottish League Cup quarter-final (broadcast on 19th September 2017 from 7:00 pm).

The Gers booked their place in the semi-final, but needed extra-time to get the better of their Scottish Premiership rivals after the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha

Strangely, given his recent form, Morelos did not get on the scoresheet before he was taken off for Herrera at the start of the additional 30 minutes.

Herrera may not have enjoyed anything like the start that Morelos has – scoring just once in his previous five appearances following his summer move – but he provided a glimpse of his class with a wonderful finish from close range for Rangers’ third.

Alfredo Morelos

And after the game, Sutton conceded that Caixinha deserves plenty of praise for the change as it initially appeared to be a somewhat bizarre substitution replacing the side’s top goalscorer with a forward who has struggled for form.

“You’ve got to credit Pedro for that substitution. I think we were all scratching our heads thinking, ‘you’re taking Morelos off, are you mad?’. But he was proved right,” he told BT Sport’s live coverage of Rangers’ tie with Partick (broadcast on 19th September 2017 from 7:00 pm).

The change could prove extremely beneficial for the Gers. The likes of Bruno Alves and Declan John had to limp off, but Caixinha managed to eliminate any risk of Morelos collecting a similar problem ahead of the first Old Firm meeting of the season this weekend.

And with Herrera boosting his own confidence with a goal – and a wonderfully-taken one at that – Caixinha may perhaps be more tempted to give the Mexican some kind of chance against Celtic.