There are some results which are so profoundly shocking and so utterly hideous that they echo down the decades and haunt everyone associated with them for the rest of their days.
Move over Berwick Rangers and Hamilton Accies. Those previous humiliations for Rangers in the Scottish Cup have just been toppled from the head of the all-time list of shame in truly jaw-dropping fashion by Queen’s Park.
Back in 1967, Berwick had home advantage. Some 20 years later, Accies were at least a Premier League side.
Never in Glasgow Rangers’ illustrious history had they previously lost to a lower league side at home in this competition.
The consequences of Queen’s first win over Rangers since 1948 and their first Scottish Cup success over them since 1882 could be seismic.
Within a few minutes of the final whistle blowing, an angry mob had gathered at the front door of Ibrox demanding the head of the Belgian manager.
James Tavernier can scarcely believe it after his stoppage-time penalty is saved at Ibrox
Rangers boss Philippe Clement insisted he would not resign after his team’s Scottish Cup exit
Goalkeeper Calum Ferrie celebrates after his heroic display in Queen’s Park’s shock triumph
Clement, unsurprisingly, stated that he wouldn’t fall on his own sword. The demand for chief executive Patrick Stewart to do the deed this morning may now prove overwhelming. Frankly, the case for retaining the manager’s services is flimsy, at best.
Some 58 years ago, Sammy Reid scored the most famous goal in Berwick’s history at Shielfield Park. On the day John Lambie’s Hamilton knocked out Graeme Souness’ side, Adrian Sprott wrote his name into Scottish football folklore. With one swing of his left boot yesterday, Sebastian Drozd joined that list.
Freed from Millwall last summer, the player had to train on his own and only arrived at Queen’s Park as a free agent last October. His name will now be recalled in these parts long after his boots are on a peg.
There were heroes in the Spiders side everywhere you looked. Goalkeeper Calum Ferrie was outstanding.
With the allotted five minutes of stoppage time having been played, he was required to pull off one more act of heroism when Will Tizzard dragged Cyriel Dessers to the ground at the cost of a penalty.
The delay seemed to unnerve James Tavernier. Ferrie jumped to his left to repel his strike and it was all over. An upset that is arguably the greatest shock in the history of this competition.
What an achievement this was for Callum Davidson. The man who won both domestic trophies as St Johnstone manager four years ago might have thought his days of upsetting the odds in this competition were over. Not a bit of it. Who’s to say Queen’s can’t now go all the way and reach their first final since 1900?
Since time immemorial, the key to prevailing in these kind of matches has always been a question of attitude.
Go through the motions and the bigger club invites calamity. That’s precisely what unfolded here.
You could offer absolutely no excuses for Clement’s side. They got exactly what they deserved,
This was a team containing five full internationalists. Aside from Liam Kelly, Rafael Fernandes and Bailey Rice, it was a selection featuring players who would expect to start matches more often than not.
Yet Rangers seemed oddly determined to make heavy weather of seeing off a side sitting mid-table in the Championship.
It was a day when far too many in light blue decided that safe passing and taking the easy option was the way to break down an organised but limited opponent.
A pedestrian first-half display was summed up by Clement turning his back and waving his arms in frustration as Fernandes and Robin Propper played keep ball between themselves.
Neither central defender was willing to step forward into midfield and start something. The options ahead of them were static.
From the first whistle to the last, Rangers were their own worst enemies. On the rare occasions when they found themselves in promising areas, their performance was pockmarked by dreadful execution of crosses and absence of composure.
Queen’s keeper Ferrie traipsed out the tunnel at half-time having made only routine saves that he’d have been expected to make.
The most alarming moment for him was when he accidentally played a ball straight to Mohamed Diomande.
Aside from that? A couple of tame Ianis Hagi efforts, a weak Nedim Bajrami header and a half-hearted Vaclav Cerny shot was about as good as it got for the home side.
You had to feel something for young Rice here. After seven substitute appearances, this was finally the day when the gifted teenager made his first start for Rangers.
The former Motherwell trainee actually didn’t do much wrong. Blessed with a cultured left foot, he picked some nice passes and made some important interceptions.
It was just that, collectively, Rangers were so uninspiring going forward that Clement simply had to shake things up at the break. Bailey made way for Nico Raskin as Bajrami was replaced by Dessers.
The blunt truth was that the Belgian could have hooked any of his outfield players.
Not that any of those who were thrown on made much difference. If anything, they were worse.
Queen’s might well have hit the front before they did. As Rangers continued to huff and puff, Kyle Hurst was only inches away from turning home Ryan Duncan’s cross.
Aside from seeing Igamane head a corner straight at Ferrie, there was little to encourage the home supporters.
It was with 20 minutes remaining that the unthinkable happened. Louis Longridge’s corner was flicked on. Drozd picked it up at the far post and took Jefte out the game with a twist of his hips.
He then showed commendable composure to slot the ball low beyond Kelly. The noise from the Spiders fans would have been audible at Hampden.
With panic setting in, Dessers and Cerny had shots saved. As the clock showed the last of the five additional minutes had expired, the lifeline Clement had been praying for arrived.
Tizzard’s tug on Dessers saw referee Scott point to the spot. After a lengthy delay, up stepped Tavernier. Ferrie threw himself to his left to save.
After a few more frantic moments, the whistle sounded and Rangers were out. Many will feel Clement should now suffer the same fate.
