WHILE it is unreasonable to expect Rangers to challenge Celtic for silverware given the disparity in spending power that exists between the Glasgow rivals, it is not asking too much for them to at least compete.
Motherwell, who will take on their top flight rivals in the William Hill Scottish Cup final next month, have certainly done so on more than one occasion this season despite having a budget that would barely cover the petrol money of one of their opponent’s players.
Which is why the abject performance by his side in the semi-final at Hampden yesterday will have such huge ramifications for Graeme Murty.
Brendan Rodgers and his players moved to within a game of history – an unprecedented second consecutive domestic treble to be exact - with one of their best displays of their campaign.
Murty, who has only been put in charge of the Ibrox club until the summer, may well soon be history after one of the worst showings of his six month tenure.
The ease with which Celtic coasted, courtesy of first-half Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor strikes and second-half penalties from Moussa Dembele and Olivier Ntcham, into the final was inexcusable.
Their opponents were reduced to 10 men when Ross McCrorie was red carded for a foul on Dembele. But would it really have made any difference to the final outcome if the young centre half had remained on the park? It is unlikely given their pathetic contribution to the match.
Several Rangers players, not least Graham Dorrans, Andy Halliday and Russell Martin, let themselves down very badly, but ultimately the responsibility lies with Murty and it is difficult to see how he can survive this humiliation even if they finish the league strongly and secure second spot.
The cup holders dominated completely from start to finish. It was no surprise to anyone inside the stadium when the first goal came after 22 minutes. Dembele laid the ball off to James Forrest who squared to Rogic inside him in the penalty area.
Read more: Brendan Rodgers: I have empathy for Graeme Murty - he's done as much as he possibly can at Rangers
The playmaker did brilliantly to control the ball, turn Ross McCrorie and curl a right foot effort beyond the fingertips of the extended Foderingham and into the bottom right corner.
That the Rangers midfield of Halliday, Dorrans and Greg Docherty was utterly ineffective and completely outclassed was highlighted at the second Celtic goal seven minutes before half-time.
Martin could certainly have done better than prod a Tierney cross straight to McGregor who did well to keep the ball down and side-foot beyond Foderingham. But why was the scorer given the time and space to take his shot? Who had tracked his run into the box? Why was nobody closing him down? It was schoolboy stuff.
Whatever words of encouragement Murty had for his players and whatever tactical changes he made at half-time were rendered irrelevant five minutes into the second-half when McCrorie was ordered off for pulling the shirt of Dembele inside his own area as the striker bore down on goal.
Read more: Neil Cameron: The mystery is why Rangers still find Celtic a mystery...
The Frenchman accepted responsibility for the spot kick and sent the supporters behind the goal into raptures by netting with an audacious Panenka-style execution as Foderingham dove the wrong way. “I didn’t expect that,” said Rodgers with a wry smile afterwards. “I’m glad it went in.”
The only positive thing you could say about Rangers yesterday was that they kept on trying after being reduced to 10 men and falling 3-0 behind. Alfredo Morelos and Bruno Alves, who came on for Candeias after McCrorie had been red carded, both forced outstanding one-handed saves from Gordon in the space of four minutes.
Celtic lorded it over their opponents after that. Jason Holt took over from the hugely disappointing Dorrans and Patrick Roberts replaced Forrest in the 73rd minute. The former brought down the latter five minutes after they took to the field. Ntcham stepped forward to take it and drilled the ball into the bottom left corner after a staggered run-up.
This was another miserable outing in a Glasgow derby match for Morelos. He had to be physically restrained from confronting his agitator at the end of the game. He was mouthing off at Docherty as he made his way up the tunnel.
The smattering of Rangers fans who were left inside the stadium at the end of the 90 minutes directed their anger and disgust at Murty and they will be the ones who ultimately decide whether he stays or goes.
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