Humiliated

ALTOGETHER now – you all know the tune: “The cry was no defenders.....”. The parody on one of Ra Peepul's traditional battle hymns was again in evidence last night, as Rangers, stumbled, staggered and finally crumbled to an embarrassing 1-4 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle.

Embarrassing is maybe kind to the shambles that was the Ibrox defence, this was humiliation on a grand scale. Causing a mass exodus of Bears midway through the second half is supposed to be a Celtic trick, now here were Hearts having the temerity to get in on the act.

And, had the game finished-up 6-2 or 7-2 (taking heed of that superb reflex save from Jack Hamilton's during Rangers wee spell of good play late in the first half) nobody could have complained. It is now quite clear, Rangers is a club in deep, deep doo-dah.

I was speaking, over the weekend, to a couple of absolute Ranger' fanatics. Guys who have centre stand season tickets at Ibrox, whose support goes back to the days of, if not the Iron Curtain team of 1949, then at least as far back as seeing Geordie Young, Ian McColl, Sammy Baird and the Scott, McMillan, Millar, Brand and Wilson forward line.

Both, while not prepared to give up on a lifetime obsession are adamant: “We're skint, there are players getting a regular game who are not Rangers' class, our board hasn't a clue, the chairman is a charlatan and I have my doubts about the manager. Oh, and Rangers should not be signing players from the lower leagues in England, our demands should be for better-quality personnel”. That is a paraphrasing of what these two were saying.

Difficult to argue with their analysis.

MEANWHILE , without hitting their straps, Celtic comfortably beat Aberdeen, to move 25-points clear of the field at the top of the Premiership, and extend their winning domestic run to 28-games. And remember, for all their dominance, and superbly-consistent domestic form, this is a far from vintage Celtic team. What is to be done about Scottish fitba?

AS FOR young Ian Cathro, I was delighted for him. I still maintain, being the Honcho at a club is a lot different from being a mere coach, even a very good coach – which is what wiser heads than I have been saying about Cathro. He has not had his troubles to seek, but, last night's win – and for all Rangers' defensive travails, Hearts played very well – will, hopefully, be replicated on a regular basis and we will see genuine competition for the runners-up spot. Then, hopefully next season, at least one, hopefully two or three clubs will find the rhythm to challenge Celtic for the title, and do well in the Europa League.

By the way, kudos to the Hearts' fans for that chant with which they sent the early-departing visiting fans on their way: “Fucked by a lap top, you've just been fucked by a lap top”; terracing humour lives.

THE draw for the fifth round – the last 16 – of the Scottish Junior Cup has been made and it is:

Auchinleck Talbot v Luncarty

Dunbar United v Glenafton Athletic

Gartcairn v Carluke Rovers

Kelty Hearts v Kilwinning Rangers

Maryhill v Linlithgow Rose

Penicuik Athletic v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy or Musselburgh Athletic

Petershill v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic or Kilsyth Rangers .

Renfrew v Sauchie

Some famous big name junior clubs still in there. Rob Roy and Glenafton, the two leaders of the West Premier Division are still alive, and, while Kilwinning Rangers might be holding up that table, the Buffs have a proud Scottish Cup tradition.

East Superleague leaders Kelty are still in there, as are second-placed Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, fresh from their Senior Scottish Cup heroics, and, as ever, Linlithgow Rose are still going strong.

And, of course, having disposed of cup holders Beith, at their own Bellsdale Park in the last round, Auchinleck Talbot are in their customary position of cup favourites. With a home tie, at Fortress Beechwood, against Luncaty, will anyone bet against Tucker Sloan's men being in the last eight and going all the way?

I will be interested, in particular, in the Dunbar United v Glenafton clash; Dunbar is one of those places you don't want to have to go to if you harbour Scottish Cup ambitions, and, if the Glen can go there and not lose, we will be getting a wee bit excited down in this part of East Ayrshire.