Hampden pain is over but can Gers

Have the final say?

THERE’S been pitch riots, dressing-room rammies, Hoops humpings and late heartache along the way.

But finally, after six games and now on their fourth manager, Rangers tasted victory at the National Stadium and broke their Hampden hex.

After all that suffering and Mount Florida misery it was a routine 3-0 victory over a Hearts side who, like their Edinburgh rivals 24 hours earlier, ended a traumatic week on the end of a heavy semi-final defeat.

Rangers have endured painful experiences on the short trip to Glasgow’s south side since the euphoria of an Old Firm Scottish Cup semi win under Mark Warburton in April 2016.

The final defeat by Hibs was overshadowed by ugly scenes afterwards and Andy Halliday’s effort that day was the last goal Rangers had even scored at Hampden before Filip Helander’s opener right on half-time yesterday.

Alfredo Morelos set it up and went from provider to poacher to grab No.2 just after the restart to break Hearts.

It was a huge psychological barrier for Steven Gerrard to break down given the run the club had been on stretching back to that Scottish Cup final loss.

Warburton lost 1-0 to Celtic at the same stage of this competition, the Englishman was sacked four months later and replacement Pedro Caixinha lost 2-0 to the Hoops in the last four of the Scottish Cup then lost the League Cup semi-final 2-0 to Motherwell and was axed.

Caretaker Graeme Murty’s reign unravelled as a 4-0 Hampden loss to Celtic brought things to a head, after a dressing room bust-up.

Gerrard arrived but even he failed when he suffered a late defeat to Aberdeen 12 months ago in the League Cup semi.

With Celtic swatting Hibs aside in Saturday’s game there was plenty of pressure on the former Liverpool and England icon going into this one.

The Englishman has improved as a boss along with the squad he has assembled – helped by investment from Dave King and Co as shown in the accounts released last week – but still needs something tangible to show for it. Rangers are

Gerrard has improved as a boss but needs something tangible to show for it

currently on the longest run in the club’s history without a major trophy with a seven-season spell at the start of the 20th century the previous worst barren run.

It was victory over Celtic in the 2011 League Cup final, with Nikica Jelavic netting an extratime winner, that proved the catalyst for league success that season – their last major trophy.

The most traumatic period in the club’s history followed and it won’t be until they get their hands on one of the big prizes that they can truly say they are back.

Celts have won the last nine domestic trophies and will chase a tenth on December 8. Will it be Hampden heaven or more hell for Rangers?