ferguson became a regular fixture in the first team during the 1998–99 season under new manager dick advocaat (displacing fellow youth graduate charlie miller). the dutchman soon secured ferguson on a long-term contract as he became an important member of the squad. he scored his first career goal in a league cup match against alloa athletic on 18 august 1998, and played against his brother on three occasions during that season when rangers faced dunfermline athletic, with a 20-year-old ferguson scoring his first league goal in the match at east end park. his brother, then 31 years old, made his last appearance at ibrox in the reverse fixture. injury prevented him from being involved in the 1998–99 season run-in as the club achieved the treble; ferguson watched the 1999 scottish cup final from the stands as rangers won by a single goal, scored by rod wallace three minutes into the second half.