That most unwelcome of visitors, Reality, returned to the thoughts of Bears tonight as they watched their Treble dreams killed of by an Irish manager with three Irish goal-scorers.
It was a Christmas nightmare for the Ibrox fans who had feasted on a 27 match unbeaten domestic run while Barry Ferguson and others started to speculate over an Invincible Treble.
Trying to emulate the achievements of Celtic has long been the downfall of clubs from Ibrox with Ross County’s Betfred Cup win over the holders giving the Tribute Act the chance to add a real trophy to the Irn Bru Petroltank Challenge Cup won in 2016.
The memories of back-to-back defeats to Hearts and Hamilton last season were starting to fade away when Conor Goldson opened the scoring in the seventh minute but when the final whistle blew after 97 minutes the old fears were back.
Chris Sutton had branded James Tavernier a serial loser, after the Scottish Cup defeat at Tynecastle the former Wigan utility man admitted that his team-mates couldn’t cope with pressure and expectations.
With a slight hint that Celtic might be discovering form and having the chance of taking another trophy back to the east end on Sunday the same old questions will be asked about Mister Gerrard. After sending hopes sky high he knows the consequences of failing to deliver with the mood starting to turn ugly among long suffering bears.
FULL-TIME: St Mirren 3-2 Rangers
Defeat in the League Cup. pic.twitter.com/ggdg0yP0WI
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) December 16, 2020
Team needs to take a long hard look at themselves right now and switch off the hype machine. EVERY single team in Scotland will have watched that game & be hoping that’s our form dipping now. EVERY single player that pulls our jersey on needs to play like it’s a cup final!
— Gruff (@Gruffzilla) December 16, 2020
We’ve been excellent all season, but that was massively disappointing. I honestly thought performances like that were in the past.
I don’t care what anyone says, the players took their foot off the gas tonight – and they were punished.
Back at it Saturday!
— West Mids Loyal (@WestMidsLoyal) December 16, 2020
— JC (@BxlfastBhoy) December 16, 2020
Wake up call let’s get this sorted out
— Iannis (@Iannis65873426) December 16, 2020
Nothing new. Any pressure and we bottle it. Congrats St Mirren you plainly wanted it.
— Hames Tavernier #KBF (@goingforsilver) December 16, 2020
Great season eh what have you won
— David Sheehan (@DavidSheehan15) December 16, 2020
Embarrassing tonight enough is enough when are you going to learn to keep it tight after scoring
— True Blues Loyal®?™? ?????????? (@TrueBluesLoyal) December 16, 2020
