chaos went into meltdown following an utterly shameful
performance that resulted in a 1-1 draw with Partick
Thistle at Ibrox.
The result means yet another game to be added to an
already overcrowded schedule for the Light Blues must
now travel across the city to Firhill for a
quarter-final replay.
To be blunt there were certain players turning out for
the home side tonight who should never wear the Light
Blue again.
Manager Walter Smith made six changes from Hampden
with Steven Whittaker, Steven Naismith, Kevin Thomson,
Charlie Adam, Nacho Novo and Kris Boyd replacing David
Weir, Sasa Papac, Barry Ferguson, Brahim Hemdani,
Chris Burke and Lee McCulloch.
There was a healthy contingent of over 3,000 visiting
supporters present as Novo came close to opening the
scoring in eight minutes with a 25-yard shot that was
inches wide.
Two minutes later Boyd's header from a Naismith cross
flashed over - but in truth it should have been in the
back of the net.
There appeared to be a lack of drive and urgency about
the Ibrox men - and Thistle threatened in 25 minutes
when Damon Gray was through on a Mark Roberts pass
only to see Allan McGregor turn his shot wide.
The first-half had deteriorated to the extent that
there was precious little goalmouth action until 41
minutes when Carlos Cuellar's header from an Adam
corner was parried by Jags goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey.
Three minutes later Novo's header from a Boyd cross
was just over.
A desperately poor half ended goalless, but sadly the
action was no better on the restart.
Naismith was inches away from opening the scoring in
57 minutes when his header from a Steve Davis cross
struck the crossbar.
Seven minutes later there was a light-hearted break in
proceedings when Referee Iain Brines tumbled to the
ground, injuring his shoulder in the process and
requiring treatment before continuing with play.
The deadlock was finally broken in 66 minutes - but to
the shock and despair of the Light Blue legions it was
Thistle who scored with a swift counter-attack when
Grant Harkins fed Gray who buried the ball in the back
of the net.
A major cup shock of seismic proportions was on the
horizon - but Rangers were level within two minutes
when Boyd scrambled the ball home from close range
following an almighty scramble after Burke's cross was
almost headed into his own net by John Robertson,
Naismith's affort from the rebound being blocked
before the ball fell to Boyd.
The home side were unable to build on that break, and
indeed failed to create another clear-cut opening
until the dying minutes when Novo completely missed
his kick from a Burke cutback with the goal at his
mercy.
The final whitle was greeted with a crescendo of
booing, the ire of the fans being directed at the
hapless Burke in particular as he left the field.
Afterwards Assistant Manager Ally McCoist looked back:
"We were very poor, but are still in the Cup. Partick
Thistle did very well. We never got started. A replay
was the last thing we needed, but we will be ready to
play whenever we are asked to."
RANGERS McGregor; Broadfoot, Cuellar, Dailly,
Whittaker; Naismith (McCulloch 71), Davis, Thomson,
Adam (Burke 57); Novo, Boyd
UNUSED SUBS Alexander, Smith, Furman
PARTICK THISTLE Tuffey; Storey, Twaddle; Donnelly
(McKinlay 68), Robertson, Archibald; Chaplain (McStay
90), Rowson, Gray (Murray 83), Roberts, Harkins
UNUSED SUBS Hinchcliffe, Kinniburgh
REFEREE Iain Brines
Attendance 36,724