Rangers have sunk to an unthinkable low as a botched stoppage time penalty sealed a 1-0 loss to Queen’s Park at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup.
Sebastian Drozd’s 69th-minute strike proved the difference as the highly-fancied Rangers fired off 28 shots in total but could not find a way past their stubborn rivals from the Scottish second tier.
Rangers skipper James Tavernier had a golden chance to score the equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time when the referee pointed to the spot following William Tizzard’s foul on Cyriel Dessers.
But Queen’s Park glovesman, Calum Ferrie, became an instant hero when he correctly guessed the direction of Tavernier’s penalty and produced a superb stop.
Ferrie once again was the hero from the resulting corner as he made a fingertip save to push a header over the bar.
That proved to be the final act of the match, as the full-time whistle sealed Rangers’ exit from the competition.
Unsurprisingly, Philippe Clement’s side were showered with boos by their fans at the full-time whistle.
Speaking after the contest, Clement lamented a ‘super frustrating’ performance from his troops.
“First half, too low tempo,” Clement told Premier Sports.
“We had the chances to go in front. Second half, we raised our tempo. Today, we had the most chances this season but no goals, even a penalty not scoring.
“You get one shot on target and you receive a goal. So it’s a hold-up, but we should have scored more goals and at the end it’s about that.
“We’re out of the cup and it’s super frustrating.”
The loss to Queen’s Park means Rangers have lost a home tie in the Scottish Cup to a team from a lower division for the first time in the club’s 153-year history.
It was also Rangers’ first loss to a team in a lower division overall since 1967.
The defeat also killed off perhaps Rangers’ most realistic chance for a trophy this season.
Gers sit 13 points behind league leaders Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and although they are in the last 16 of the Europa League, they have the likes of Lazio, Athletic Club, Manchester United and Tottenham to contend with.
With the humiliating cup exit now on his CV and chances for trophies this season now looking a distant dream, the calls for Clement’s sacking will have grown in volume.
However, the Belgian remains ‘confident’ he will remain in his post.
“Everybody knows how hard everyone is working together,” Clement said.
“Last week, everybody said the team is taking good steps and growing.
“It’s not because you lose a game where you normally have to win 99 out of 100, that things change about the way things are working.
“If you do that, then you are only living in emotions and then there will never be stability in this club.”
