NO HIDING THE HARSH TRUTH
Vulnerability hangs heavy in the air at Ibrox as Rangers limp into last eight
So Mark Warburton’s successor will have a Scottish Cup quarterfinal to enter into his diary. A home tie against Dunfermline or Hamilton isn’t the worst introductory gift.
How Rangers got there was far from convincing. But continuing in the competition provided a sliver of stability amid so much upheaval.
It was an outcome all at Ibrox would have gladly grasped at 3.07pm. Michael Tidser had just put Morton in front. At that point, it seemed there was every chance the exits of Warburton, David Weir and Frank McParland would be followed by a humiliating end to the team’s last shot at silverware.
Ten years previously, the conclusion of Paul Le Guen’s ill-starred tenure immediately led into a Scottish Cup defeat to Dunfermline. History threatened to repeat itself.
This time, however, Rangers found a way through. Just. only just. Kenny Miller’s equaliser doused the sense of panic before Martyn Waghorn struck to secure progression in the second half.
But this was a slog. So often fragile under Warburton, Rangers remained that way right through to the last kick of the ball here.
Set out with the astute guidance of Jim Duffy, their Championship opponents were always in strong contention. Ultimately, however, two misses from Celtic loanees were sources of immense Ibrox relief.
Aidan Nesbitt was the first to have a moment he will turn over in his mind when he wakes during the night. Clean through on Wes Foderingham with the scoreline level at 1-1, the 20-year-old spurned a prime chance to restore Morton’s lead. Who knows how this would have turned out had he retained composure.
Then, right at the death, a woeful mix-up between Foderingham and Lee Hodson granted substitute Luke Donnelly the chance to land his side a replay. Donnelly, though, followed Nesbitt’s lead by sending a shot over the bar.
It meant that Rangers Under-20s coach Graeme Murty had successfully fulfilled his role as the emergency occupant of their technical area.
The club’s board will now spend the next two days formulating plans to have a new man in place before Sunday’s visit to Dundee. An interim appointment until the end of the season — with former boss Alex McLeish a leading contender — is likely to be the preferred option.
McLeish (below) was at Ibrox to conduct the quarter-final draw and made clear his willingness to discuss a return. Neither he nor any other candidate will, however, be under any illusions as to what they are inheriting.
Defensive decisiveness is an alien concept in this team. The performance of Philippe Senderos, in particular, offered Morton plentiful scope for hope. Finding the correct formula among the limited centre-half options will be a significant challenge for the incomer.
The match programme for this tie had already been printed by the time Warburton departed late on Friday evening. Within it, his final notes made for interesting reading given the accusation since levelled at him by King of using Rangers as a stepping stone.
‘The simple fact is that most of us, players and staff, would not be here had the club not been through the traumas of the last five years,’ Warburton wrote.
‘In truth, we are all therefore extremely fortunate and privileged to be here at Rangers, but at the same time need to recognise and must respond to the heavy responsibility that comes with being in such a position.’
Warburton’s exit does not, of course, automatically alleviate the issues within the squad he built. Their painful vulnerability was again exposed as Morton went in front after seven minutes. Ineptitude preceded it.
A long ball forward was met by Clint Hill, who unconvincingly headed up in the air. Andy Halliday should have mopped up but was pressed out of it by Tidser, sending the ball towards Nesbitt at the edge of the area. He promptly lobbed leftwards to find the onrushing and untracked Tidser, whose expertly-controlled volley accurately beat Foderingham inside his righthand post. Ibrox shuddered in sharp disapproval. When Halliday then miscontrolled almost directly after the restart, the volume of angst was turned up considerably. Rangers badly need a swift way to settle the situation. To clear their heads and refocus. It came within six minutes.
Time and again this season, Miller has led from the front. The 37-year-old has offered assurance when too many others have gone to pieces.
And so it was again here. Barrie McKay created the opportunity. The winger, once loaned out to Morton, skipped into the area before firing in an angled drive that was beaten out by Derek Gaston.
Miller seized upon the loose ball, with his low strike deflecting off Thomas o’Ware to find the net.
The reprieve sparked a little flurry of attacking incision from the home side. Emerson Hyndman’s swivel to create space just outside the area was followed by a lovely, curling right-footed effort that bounced off the bar. Then James Tavernier’s cross was glanced fractionally wide by the head of Jason Holt.
However, despite McKay posing a persistent threat on his surges down the left, Rangers could not capitalise on the switch in momentum. Morton steadied to see half-time on an equal footing.
They should have been even better placed seven minutes after the restart. Senderos had looked unconvincing all afternoon. But he took that impression to new levels with a dismally misplaced header.
The ball was rapidly shuttled behind him to leave Nesbitt through. But he swiped his shot at glory high over the bar.
Would the Morton fans see a better chance? With this Rangers defence it always seemed possible.
But, on 61 minutes, the Ibrox outfit capitalised on the escape granted by Nesbitt to take the lead.
McKay was again involved as his back-heel sent Holt scurrying towards the bye-line. Hyndman tried to force home Holt’s cross at the near post — and when Gaston blocked that attempt, it broke for Waghorn to finish from point-blank range.