12 of Rangers’ worst defeats since 2012
A first league defeat in what was then the Third Division at the hands of Stirling Albion - rock bottom and on a losing run of five - was followed up the following February with a comprehensive cup exit at Tannadice that saw Rangers finish with nine men after the dismissals of Kal Naismith and Ian Black.
Six months later, a Gavin Swankie goal in extra time sent the Ibrox side crashing out of the League Cup at the first hurdle away to Forfar.
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Hide AdHere, we take a look at 12 of the worst Rangers results in the past two and a bit years.
Scottish Cup fifth round, 8 February 2015
A late winner by Christian Nade gave Rovers their first victory at Ibrox since 1959. A barely five-figure crowd vented their frustration with caretaker manager Kenny McDowall and his team after the match, having barracked the absent board of directors before and during the game.
League Cup semi-final, 1 February 2014
The hotly-anticipated first meeting of the Glasgow clubs in nearly three years turned out to be a damp squib. Celtic had the match won in the first half-hour thanks to goals from Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons, then eased down to a canter.
Championship, 27 December 2014
A Scott Allan-inspired Hibs sliced Rangers open in McDowall’s first game as caretaker manager. Two-nil up in 12 minutes, Hibs eased to their biggest home win against Rangers since an 8-1 wartime triumph.
Petrofac Training Cup semi-final, 3 December 2014
Two-nil up with 20 minutes left, Rangers plumbed new depths of ineptitude to lose this one. After the match, manager Ally McCoist said he was “100 per cent determined” to carry on. He was gone within weeks, placed on gardening leave.
Championship, 15 November 2914
A goal by Liam Buchanan denied the home team two points and sent them six behind league leaders Hearts. Alloa had already drawn with Rangers on their own plastic pitch.
Ramsdens Cup final, 6 April 2014
Raith striker John Baird grabbed the only goal late in extra-time at Easter Road after another feckless performance by the Glasgow club. It was the only goal Rangers had conceded in the competition.
Scottish Cup quarter-final, 9 March 2014
A controversial late equaliser by Bilel Mohsni spared the home team’s blushes against the League Two strugglers, who were through to the last eight for the first time in 80 years. Rangers won the replay 1-0.
League Cup first round, 3 August 2013
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Hide AdAn extra-time winner by Gavin Swankie knocked out a Rangers side who were without their summer signings because of a transfer ban that ran until the end of that month.
Third Division, 9 March 2013
A first home defeat in the bottom flight came just days after chief executive Charles Green had called this “probably the worst” Rangers side ever. No-one could be found to disagree with him at the end of this tortured affair.
Scottish Cup fifth round, 2 February 2013
Jackie McNamara’s first match in charge of United saw his team cruise to victory, with Rangers’ woes compounded by the late dismissal of Kal Naismith and Ian Black. Johnny Russell’s first-minute opener set the tone for the afternoon.
Third Division, 6 October 2012
Stirling were bottom of the division at the time and had lost their previous five games. Their manager, Greig McDonald, was away getting married, but his team showed no sign of losing focus as they held on to an early lead to inflict a first league defeat of the season on the visitors.
League Cup quarter-final, 31 October 2012
A 2-0 win over Motherwell in the previous round had led Rangers to believe that they were still a top-flight club in all but name. This comprehensive loss to Caley Thistle suggested that in reality the standards of Ally McCoist’s squad had slipped considerably.