Rangers

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Captain James Tavernier says Rangers have already shown this season they have the ability to "bounce back" from the pain of Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat by city rivals Celtic.

Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama missed from the spot after the match went to a penalty shoot-out despite Rangers dominating for the majority of a goalless 120 minutes.

"I've got to obviously hold responsibility," Tavernier, who started on the bench, said. "I've got to put my penalty away. I expect myself to set a standard in a penalty shoot-out.

"Games are always defined by clinical moments and that was obviously lacking.

"We did everything but score a goal in this game. And we'll look back on it, we'll learn from it."

Rangers are left to concentrate on narrowing the six-point gap in the Scottish Premiership with leaders Hearts, having been 13 behind when Danny Rohl was appointed eight games into the Premiership season.

"We've got 27 points to play for and that's what we'll be aiming for," right-back Tavernier said.

"It's obviously our main focus now. The boys will bounce back from this, I'm sure.

"If you look at the start of the season, of where we were at and to where we are now, the boys have really come together, put in performances and put in results."

Tavernier has played 45 times this season, but 12 have come as a substitute, with Dujon Sterling preferred for both recent games against Celtic and with the 34-year-old facing an uncertain future as his contract ends this summer.

"Obviously I want to play more games, more minutes, but it's down to the manager, who and what he selects, and you've got to respect that," he added.

"I just want to give it my all, like I've always done, and that's the best I possibly can do for myself."

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The head of a Scottish football fan group has said he was "angry" after Celtic and Rangers fans both charged on the Ibrox pitch at the end of Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Celtic won on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, after which both sets of supporters spilled out from the stands.

Police described the scenes as "shameful" and made a number of arrests.

Stuart Murphy, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Fans Association, described the situation as a "debacle" and says it is not fair on the majority of match-going fans.

"I'm angry this morning," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"Actually, I'm angry on behalf of the majority of all decent fans, who will all feel tarnished and stained by that debacle yesterday which is the only way to describe it.

"I was at the Old Firm cup final 45 years ago and 45 years on, we've not moved on at all, so this morning is not a good day for the game in general."

Both sets of supporters also clashed on the pitch after the 1980 Scottish Cup final, after which there were 200 arrests and alcohol was banned from sports grounds in Scotland. There are still no alcohol sales at football stadiums.

We asked you Rangers fans for your views on the penalty shoot-out loss to Celtic in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Brian: It saddens me to say but Danny Rohl doesn't just cut it at this level - he might be a good manager at Championship level but he's simply not good enough to be a Rangers manger. The two games against Celtic have exposed his flaws, in that he is not tactically ruthless enough and he lacks the guile to outwit a more seasoned opposition manager like Martin O'Neill. Rangers came up against a poor Celtic team and proved that they are just not good enough, just like their manager.

Bob: Pathetic - 24 shots to one - and we lose on penalties. Never seen such a poor Celtic performance but if you don't have players capable of finishing, you lose. Our attack is incompetent and toothless. No way to win silverware.

Ronnie: Another heartbreak for Rangers fans. But I'm not going after the players, they gave 100%. Nobody hid. We dominated the game but just lacked composure in the box and with the vital pass. Rohl still has my support. It's disappointing but let's see where we are on the final day before we start screaming to sack the manager.

Sue: In our heart of hearts we knew how this would end - in defeat. Rohl is a decent man and a decent manager but he's simply not good enough to get this Rangers team over the line, as he has proven. Two wasted opportunities to secure victories against a poor Celtic outfit. A season that started in disaster under Russell Martin will end in soul searching and recriminations with what could have been under Rohl - but it was all pie in the sky.

Will: A poor game against a weak Celtic team. There were too many passengers in the team today. No creativity and nobody taking control of the ball.

It was as though they were overawed, misplacing passes and rushing things. Not any quality on the park, too many mercenaries and not enough homegrown players in the team.

Rohl came in needing snookers to win the league but from what I've seen the last few weeks, I'm afraid the season's over.

Celtic beat Rangers on penalties to edge into the Scottish Cup semi-finals as a combustible Old Firm derby concluded in ugly scenes with fans from both sides swarming the pitch at Ibrox.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "We're disappointed. I saw a team from our side to play 120 minutes how we want to. We should score.

"When you have 24 to one shots, when you create so many great opportunities, then I must say, I'm proud of my group, how we played football. I know football's about results. I see a lot of positive things.

"We spoke after the game and we promised each other that we go now in nine finals and we try to win all these nine games and then we see what we get."

Sunday's Scottish Cup visit of Celtic is "a do-or-die game", says Rangers left-back Tuur Rommens. (Glasgow Times), external

Ex-Scotland winger Pat Nevin believes substitutions may hold the key to Sunday's Scottish Cup meeting of Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox and praises visiting manager Martin O'Neill for the changes he made in last weekend's 2-2 Premiership draw at the same venue. (Sunday Mail), external

Sunday's Scottish gossip

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers defender Tuur Rommens says Sunday's Old Firm derby Scottish Cup quarter-final is "the biggest cup game" he'll ever play in.

The city rivals faced off in the league last week as Celtic produced a second-half fightback to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.

But Rommens insists the Ibrox club can take a lot of positives from their performance.

"I think we played a good first half and it was a pity that we didn't do it in the second half," he said.

"It was a real disappointment but we analysed the whole game and I think in the first half we played a near perfect game. In the second half we did some things that weren't so good.

"We need to be positive. If you only look at the bad things it will not help on Sunday. If you look at the good things and want to improve things, that's the best thing to do."

The 22-year-old Belgian, a January signing from Westerlo, has impressed in his early Rangers outings.

Last weekend was his first taste of an Old Firm atmosphere and he insists it didn't disappoint.

"In Belgium there is only one Scottish game they broadcast and it's the Old Firm. I watched it a couple of times and it was impressive and it didn't disappoint on Sunday," he added.

"Rangers is a big club and the fans are very demanding. Everybody here is demanding. You want to win, everybody wants to win. There is a different kind of winner's mentality that you have to have here.

"It's a do-or-die game but every cup game is do or die. When you play Celtic it's a little bit different because of the rivalry.

"It's the biggest cup game I will ever play.

"When the fans are behind us it really gives us a boost. They did a great job at the weekend and I'm sure they will do on Sunday again. If we start the same way as we did last Sunday, and with the fans behind us, we can go for it."

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

• Sunday will be the 450th Old Firm meeting in league and major cups. Rangers have won 172, Celtic have won 171 and there have been 106 draws including last Sunday's 2-2 at Ibrox.

• This is the 56th time the sides have met in the Scottish Cup - and the fifth in six seasons. Rangers have won 19, Celtic have won 27 and there have been nine draws.

• This is the 12th time they have met in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox, Rangers winning five to Celtic's three, with three draws.

• This is the first Old Firm derby in the Scottish Cup since the 2024 final which Celtic won 1-0 late on thanks to Adam Idah's goal.

• The last meeting at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup was the fourth round in 2021 and Rangers won 2-0 thanks to goals from Steven Davis and a Jonjoe Kenny OG.

• Celtic's last Scottish Cup win at Ibrox was in February 1957 when they won 2-0 - their only other victories in this tournament here came in 1907 and 1908.

• Rangers last win over Celtic in this tournament was the semis in 2022 when a Carl Starfelt own goal proved decisive in a 2-1 win and took them into the final where they beat Hearts.

• Despite a few recent successes, Rangers have only won five of the past 24 derbies - the Scottish Cup semi-final in 2022 and two 3-0 victories at Ibrox as well as their recent back-to-back wins at Celtic Park.

• The team that scores first has only lost this fixture six times out of the past 48 meetings since they renewed acquaintance in the same league in 2016.

• Celtic have gone five visits to Ibrox without a win (drawn four, lost one) since Kyogo Furuhashi scored the only goal of the game in September 2023.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Can they deliver a complete performance?

You could be forgiven for thinking you were watching two different Rangers teams in the first and second halves at Ibrox last Sunday against Celtic.

In a blistering opening 45 they scored two goals, including an outstanding bicycle kick from Youssef Chermiti, had seven shots (two on target), and created three big chances.

To put that into perspective, Celtic had just one shot, didn't create a single big chance and only had six touches in the Rangers box (the hosts had 21 in the Celtic box).

Speaking at his media conference on Friday looking ahead to this weekend's Old Firm quarter-final, Rangers head coach Danny Rohl said: "The first 50 minutes was really, really outstanding.

"I really enjoyed being on the touchline in such a game. I think the biggest challenge in this game was that we felt after 50 minutes we could celebrate the win.

"You felt this in the stadium, in the stands. Everyone was convinced there is just one winner in this game."

In the second half it was a different story. Celtic had almost 60% possession, played 244 passes compared to Rangers' 180 and attempted 16 shots (Rangers had five). Crucially, the visitors scored two goals to take a point back to Parkhead.

"Everyone who knows football and who is part of this football knows games can change quick and a 2-0 is always dangerous," Rohl added.

"We did some things we probably shouldn't do again. I take the responsibility for the first half and I also take the responsibility for the second half because this is my job."

A frustration among Rangers fans has been the team's tendency to only perform in fits and starts, leaving their title hopes in real jeopardy.

If Rohl - who admits a trophy is a must this season - wants a spot in the Scottish Cup semi-final, Rangers must avoid another Jeckyll and Hyde derby showing on Sunday.

Is this the stage for Andreas Skov Olsen?

The Denmark winger arrived on loan from Wolfsburg in January with a big reputation.

Rangers hold an option to buy for a reported fee of £8.6m but Skov Olsen has struggled to set the heather alight in his first few months.

He's scored one goal in six games and set up a further two while creating 12 chances, including three big chances.

Rohl insists the 26-year-old shouldn't be written off, saying: "We know, and we saw in moments, which parts he can help us with, especially in the final third.

"I think he is also very tactical, intelligent. There is still more to come and this is what we are trying to bring out of him as soon as possible."

Plenty of doubters remain though. Having provided the cross for Chermiti's incredible opener last Sunday before fading along with the rest of his team, Skov Olsen do could with turning it on when Celtic visit again.

Will the defence hold firm?

Rangers have conceded 25 league goals all season - 16 since Rohl took charge in October - but six of those have come in their past three games, including two against bottom club Livingston.

Defensively, they've lost 202 tackles - the most of any Scottish Premiership side - and have blocked the second fewest number of crosses (34).

Rangers have made four errors leading to league goals but have conceded the third fewest goals in the division.

"I think we conceded too much at the moment," Rohl said.

"I think we conceded 16 all in in the league since I've been here. And in the last five games, eight. This is too much and this is also part of what we have to improve."

Rangers will need to shore up their defence if they want to keep Celtic out on Sunday.

Rangers boss Danny Rohl admits he must end the season with silverware as he looks ahead to Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Celtic at Ibrox.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to host Celtic in the Scottish Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Here are the main points:

• After squandering a two-goal lead in last weekend's league draw with Celtic, Rohl insists "it's our job" to improve on that performance". He says: "We spoke about the good things and what we have to improve, we go with belief, we go with trust."

• Rohl says having 7,500 Celtic fans at Ibrox will "have an impact" but stresses "if we play the 50 minutes like we did, they will be quiet", adding "the atmosphere was incredible" for the first half last weekend.

• Rohl was pleased with his side's first-half superiority last week - "I don't know when the last time Rangers dominated Celtic like this for 50 minutes was" - and is focused on maintaining that level of performance for the entire game on Sunday.

• He admits game management and tactical aspects let Rangers down, saying: "After 50 minutes we felt we could celebrate the win, it felt like there was only one winner." Rohl takes "the responsibility" for the drop-off in the second half but also the good things in the first.

• The head coach insists Rangers' belief has not been dented and "we are still in a race" for the title despite sitting six points adrift of leaders Hearts.

• Rohl says "it's not an excuse that we came from 13 points behind" but feels "the last two results [draws against Livingston and Celtic] were unnecessary when you compare the results with the performance".

• The German admits Rangers are conceding too many goals: "Sixteen in the league since I arrived and eight in the last five games - this is too much and also part of what we have to improve."

• He adds that with nine games to go "it's not the time to give gifts".

• Rohl says Rangers "have to" win a trophy this season and adds: "My own pressure is always high because I want to be successful. I want to win something. I want to bring the club forward. I want to win titles. There are still two good options, two good opportunities to do something."

• Rohl insists he's "not thinking" at the moment about taking up the option to buy Andreas Skov Olsen but feels "we've seen in moments which parts he can help us, he's very tactically intelligent. There's still more [to come] from him and we want to bring it out of him as soon as possible."

• Rohl says there's been a "full house" in training this week and "everyone is nearly back". There has been a small issue with Mikey Moore but he should be fine for the weekend while Connor Barron could return.

Talks are under way between Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur about extending 18-year-old winger Mikey Moore's loan spell at Ibrox. (TeamTalk), external

With Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson keen on moving to a club playing Champions League football, who qualifies between Celtic, Rangers and interested English clubs could determine where the 21-year-old heads this summer when his contract expires. (Football Insider), external

Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, up £7m to £15.6m, is the biggest transfer market value upgrade in the Scottish Premiership this season, with Rangers centre-half Emmanuel Fernandez next, up £6.5m to £7.8m. (Transfermarkt), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers 3-2 Celtic (4 May 2002) - Scottish Cup final

As Martin O'Neill prepares to head to Ibrox for Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final, he may be haunted by memories of this one.

Rangers claimed a dramatic derby victory to lift the cup for the third time in four seasons.

John Hartson put Celtic in front in the first half but Peter Lovenkrands levelled for Rangers just two minutes later.

Celtic regained the lead after the break courtesy of Bobo Balde but Barry Ferguson equalised and Lovenkrands stepped up in the 90th minute to score the winner and take the trophy back to Ibrox.

This would turn out to be the last Old Firm Scottish Cup final for 22 years.

Queen of the South 2-3 Rangers (24 May 2008) - Scottish Cup final

By 2008 it had been five years since Rangers last contested - or won - a Scottish Cup final.

Having missed out on the league title and lost the Uefa Cup final, Walter Smith's side looked to be cruising to success at Hampden as goals from Kris Boyd and DaMarcus Beasley put them two goals to the good before the break.

But Queens threatened a seismic shock as quick goals Steven Tosh and James Thomson hauled the second-tier side level - only for Boyd to head the winner with 20 minutes to play.

Rangers 2-0 Hearts (aet, 21 May 2022) - Scottish Cup final

This was the last time Rangers lifted the Scottish Cup.

Since then they've made it to one final, in 2024, but have also been knocked out in the quarter-finals and suffered that infamous fifth-round exit to Queen's Park last season.

The 2022 triumph was also Rangers' first Scottish Cup win since 2009. Off the back of their Europa League final defeat, which had gone to extra time and penalties, Rangers had to play another 120 minutes but this time got their rewards.

Substitutes Ryan Jack and Scott Wright scored within three minutes of one another in the first half of extra time and that would prove to be enough for Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side.

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Can Ibrox be more of hindrance than a help for Rangers?

Danny Rohl's side host Glasgow rivals Celtic on Sunday in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with the disappointment of last weekend's Old Firm derby fresh in their minds.

Ibrox was bouncing as Rangers raced 2-0 up on thanks to Youssef Chermiti's double that included a stunning overhead kick opener.

But the home fans' mood soured as a second-half capitulation allowed Celtic snatch a draw thanks to goals from Kieran Tierney and Reo Hatate's penalty rebound.

"It's not just the noise inside the head," Herald football writer Stephen McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"It's the noise inside the stadium as well. It begins to feel like a home handicap as soon as things go against them slightly.

"You can't blame paying fans for being nervous, but it does become a seething mass of anxiety. You do feel maybe sometimes does begin to seep on to the pitch as well."

Former Rangers striker Rory Loy suggests anxiety could return to the Ibrox crowd in light of recent results.

Following Sunday's draw in Govan, Celtic beat Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Wednesday night to leapfrog Rangers and move second in the Premiership.

"Look at the second half on Sunday, Tuur Rommens comes in at the back post and misses a chance and the stadium is still up on their feet singing," Loy said.

"Then the game just swung. It doesn't help when Celtic pull them back to 2-1. The midfield were just non-existent, they couldn't keep the ball and that feeds into the nervous energy from the crowd.

"On Sunday they need to start like a house on fire, they need to start like that again.

"The problem they've got on Sunday is if they'd won the game last week, the fans would put up with maybe a bit of a slower start, just to get through the cup tie.

"Given the nature of the way the game went, given there will be more away fans in, given the nature of Celtic's result last night and Celtic now being above them, it's all feeding into [that nervousness].

"If Rangers don't start well on Sunday, they'll know about it very, very quickly."