OldFirmbow willhelpGers boys Bates andBeerman becomemen
TALKING RANGERS
DANNY WILSON hopes Rangers kids David Bates and Myles Beerman have benefitted from their Old Firm bows despite suffering Hampden heartache yesterday.
Boss Pedro Caixinha handed the defensive duo their derby debuts against the Hoops but their hopes of a final berth were swept away by their bitter rivals.
Callum McGregor fired Brendan Rodgers’ side ahead after just 10 minutes as Rangers failed to get out of the traps.
When Scott Sinclair beat Wes Foderingham from the spot after James Tavernier had fouled Leigh Griffiths, the Scottish Cup dream was over for the Light Blues.
It was a tough task for Bates and Beerman in just their fourth first-team appearances but Wilson hopes they aren’t disheartened after a below par performance from Caixinha’s side. He said: “I thought they did well and we as a team probably didn’t help them enough to be honest.
“It was disappointing for us over the 90 minutes and we never really got close to Celtic.
“When we did have a couple of chances, it was too little, too late for us.
“I think those two handled themselves well and can hold their heads high. We, as a team, have to be better than we were.
“Unfortunately that is another semi-final that we have got to and Celtic have put us out, so it is very disappointing.
“They won’t play in a tougher game or against tougher opponents, so you can only learn from it.
“If you had said to them a month ago that they would be playing in this game then they probably wouldn’t have believed you.
“I am happy for them that they have come through the game but it was difficult. We should have helped them more as a team. We are all disappointed that we are not in the final, so we have to dust ourselves down and go again on Saturday.”
Rangers have little time to get over their Cup heartache as they prepare to face Celtic once again at Ibrox this weekend.
The Light Blues have failed to win any of the five derby clashes this term and only have a point at Parkhead to show for their efforts. The sixth and final Celtic clash is the last chance that Rangers have to record victory over Rodgers’ side as they close in on a domestic clean sweep in the coming weeks.
It has been a campaign to forget for the Gers as they attempt to overhaul Aberdeen to finish a distant best of the rest in the Premiership.
And Wilson knows Caixinha’s side must pick themselves up and quickly regroup if they are to bounce back from a frustrating afternoon at Hampden.
He said: “It is not going to be easy because we are all very disappointed, especially with the manner of the defeat and the fact it is against Celtic.
“It is a sore one to take but we will go back to training on Tuesday and make sure that we are ready to go again at the weekend.
“This was maybe the last bit of redemption for the season and we have not been able to do it. It is very disappointing.
“We just need to try and get as many points on the board as we can in the rest of the season and finish off as strongly as we can.”