'A very weird night'; 'Shocker of a performance'; 'We played poorly and lost, it happens': Fans react to Rangers' Betfred Cup exit at St Mirren

Conor McCarthy of St Mirren celebrates with Joe Shaughnessy after scoring their team's third and winning goal during the Betfred Cup Quarter-Final match between St Mirren and Rangers at The Simple Digital Arena on December 16, 2020 in Paisley, Scotland. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

There is criticism flying though, as Steven Gerrard said it would, and while it’s not over-the-top, the disappointment among the light blue legions is still palpable.

Darren Gibson: “Extremely disappointing. Chance of silverware and blew it big time. Manager uses word complacency constantly well tonight we were complacent. Credit to St Mirren as well.”

@gkbusdriver: “Thought they had won the game when Goldson scored first. What a chance to win a trophy and get a huge boost for the league and Scottish Cup. Shocker of a performance.

PAISLEY, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 16: Rangers Connor Goldson during a Betfred Cup quarter final match between St Mirren and Rangers at the SMISA Stadium, on December 16, 2020, in Paisley, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)

@Razged1990: “No-one that I saw had any qualms with the team before kick off. Most were actually praising it. Bassey has been excellent whenever he has played and Zungu has started well. We played poorly and lost, it happens.”

@AATG57: “A very weird night in all respects. Though we know it’s rarely gonna happen, we want and expect to win every game. Take it on the chin, settle down, get ready for the weekend and the next match and get back on track straight away.”

@WestMidsLoyal: “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 - and they were punished. Back at it Saturday!”

@Jonnymcroberts7: “Obviously upsetting to blow our chance at a trophy but in the grand scheme of things its not entirely a bad result with UEL and the League we have enough on our plate come the new year.”

John Mcbride: “We have beaten much better teams than St Mirren this season. We didn't look sharp, they chased and harried us all night we couldn't break them down and kept running out of ideas and could not find the space to be creative. It was a poor performance and that’s that. Well done to St Mirren I hope they go on and win it now.”

Others were more keen to look beyond an off-night and more into the specifics of the defeat which came after Connor Goldson had given Rangers the lead and Steven Davis’ late equaliser for 2-2. But an injury-time close-range strike from Connor McCarthy won a semi-final place for St Mirren.

@kpato89: “Last night was the perfect example for people to realise what Alfie does. The ball didn’t stick with Itten and ultimately became far too easy a night for the CBs.”

Owen Edwards: “We also can’t continue to rely on our right back and centre half to keep coming up with goals. Where is the midfield and strike force and passing the ball side to side at a snails pace when we need a goal won’t work.”

@Glxn72: “Get Helander back in on Saturday. Start Defoe. Pull no punches and score five past them.”

@Gruffzilla: “Gerrard’s only mistake was bringing Hagi on for Balogun, Helander should’ve been brought straight on in a like for like swap. Team picked was a team more than capable of winning this match and they should take a long look at themselves. Poor result and hopefully a wake up call!”

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