Amoruso faces two-match ban for 'spitting' incident

Rangers will have to do without their Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso for two matches if he is found guilty of spitting on the Ayr United striker, James Grady.

The incident in Saturday's Scottish Cup tie at Somerset Park was missed by the referee, Alan Freeland. But television cameras appeared to capture the incident clearly and the Scottish Football Association has already started disciplinary procedures.

No decision will be made until 18 March, but if found guilty Amoruso would be banned from Rangers' Scottish Cup quarter-final plus a Premier League match. That League game will not be an Old Firm encounter and is currently scheduled to be the visit of Partick Thistle to Ibrox on Saturday 5 April.

Grady had been angered by the Italian's alleged offence as the two clashed during Rangers' narrow 1-0 win over the First Division side and insisted it had been deliberate. The Ayr player said: "I should be pleased with my performance and the way the team played but instead I am going home an angry man."

Ronald de Boer broke the deadlock at Somerset Park by heading home a cross from Steven Thompson with 11 minutes to go. The Dutchman said: "It could have been one of those days, but fortunately we got our goal."

Inverness Caledonian Thistle were the fourth round's biggest winners, with a 6-1 home thrashing of Hamilton Academical.