It was yet another painful weekend at Ibrox as Rangers lost on penalties to archrivals Celtic in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
Danny Rohl’s side looked the most proactive throughout, but they couldn’t break down the resolute Celtic defence.
After 120 minutes without a goal, the game went to penalties, with James Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama missing the crucial penalties.
With the 4-2 penalty shootout heartbreak, Rohl’s men face an uphill battle to win silverware this season, with only the SPFL Premiership title race left to play for.
With four draws in the last five games (including yesterday), Rangers will need a stark turnaround in form to have any chance of toppling Hearts and Celtic.
Since the dust has settled and everyone has slept on it, let’s take a look at three reasons why Rangers lost yesterday.
Not taking chances
The most glaring stat from yesterday’s defeat was Rangers’ 12 shots to Celtic’s zero, showcasing the Gers dominance in the contest.
However, the stat also points out the obvious lack of offensive efficiency between the strikers and the attacking midfielders.
Youssef Chermiti missed two incredible chances at the end of regular time and at the start of extra time to win the game.
While Rangers dominated the ball (56% possession) and territory, Rohl’s side couldn’t convert it into many clear-cut chances.
Too many crosses didn’t beat the first man, and there was a lack of quality in the final third, with decisive, killer passes.
Should Rohl drop either Chermiti or Ryan Naderi for an attacking midfielder to close the gap between midfield and attack and offer more creative flair?
Failing to Capitalize on Celtic’s Absences
Martin O’Neill’s side arrived at Ibrox without captain Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney, two of their most influential players.
On paper, without those two players, Celtic’s midfield and left side were considerably weaker in yesterday’s game.
The Gers couldn’t find consistent situations for Andreas Skov Olsen to attack Liam Scales on Celtic’s left, nullifying an obvious attacking threat.
Without Callum McGregor in the midfield, Celtic knew they couldn’t dictate the tempo of the game like they usually would.
Instead, they made the game scrappy, and the Rangers’ midfield played perfectly into their hands.
Celtic was able to sit in, soak up pressure, and stay in the game, taking it all the way to penalties and winning the contest.
Can’t handle the pressure
Like we’ve seen too many times in recent years, when the pressure is on, the players can’t seem to deliver.
In the toughest moments, the players seem to lack mentality in real high-pressure situations.
Even though the Gers failed to score in 120 minutes, the advantage was still with the players, who were taking the penalties in front of the home fans.
The Celtic players looked cool, calm, and collected in their penalties, dispatching each one with confidence past Jack Butland.
Captain James Tavernier was supposed to set the tone for the shootout, but he fired the ball against the crossbar.
Even the penalties Nedim Bajrami and Naderi scored were begging to be saved by the Celtic goalkeeper.
