STEVEN GERRARD has challenged his Rangers players to prove themselves and react in the right manner after their shock cup exit to St Mirren.

The Gers saw their unbeaten run this term come to a painful end on Wednesday night as Jim Goodwin's side clinched a dramatic 3-2 win to progress to the last four.

Gerrard's side must now regroup as they prepare to face Motherwell on Premiership duty with the chance to move 16 points clear of Celtic in the title race.

Gerrard said: "I know what I’ll be doing. I’ll be trying to react in a positive way.

"Of course it will sting. It will hurt. But it’s my job to pick them up and make use they go again.

"Compared to the rest of the performances, 27 unbeaten or whatever it is, the players have been outstanding.

"They gave us a lot more than we expected. But tonight we just weren’t at it it’s a group.

"I’m not going to point any fingers or criticise anyone. I’m going to stand forward and take the responsibility.

"Because they’re my players. I signed the majority, if not all of them. I pick the tactics, make the decisions. So it’s on me.

“You are not expecting to win every game and there will be bumps in the road. But this is more than a bump. It was a big opportunity.

“In the league or Europe, you get a chance to recover. But there’s no chance to recover in a knockout competition, so it stings even harder.

“So we have to live with that and take what’s going to come our way. My job now is a big job, to make sure we are ready to go again."