PAUL MCGOWAN admits Dundee had no answers to a blistering Rangers start as they were blown away at Ibrox on Saturday.

Harry Forrester put the Gers ahead after just 13 seconds before goals from Jason Holt, Andy Halliday and Lee Wallace clinched a comfortable win for Mark Warburton’s side.

Dundee had made the trip to Glasgow in good spirits after taking a Premiership point at Parkhead in midweek but saw their Scottish Cup dreams killed off as they were outplayed throughout and found themselves on the end of a heavy defeat.

And former Celtic and St Mirren midfielder McGowan was disappointed Paul Hartley’s side failed to fire on the big stage as they missed out on a last four berth.

He said: "The goal affected us massively and there's no getting away from that.

“Rangers came out of the traps and it's really difficult to recover from that.

“After that we froze. We didn't pass the ball the way we can.

“Rangers wanted it more than us and that's something I can't say about our team because we have been brilliant for the past six or seven games.

“I have watched a lot of Rangers and it must be hard for them because teams sit back against them and they've got a bit of stick.

“But I was impressed with them with the way they knocked the ball about and worked it from the back.

“They were worthy winners. But our start killed us.

"If you saw us on Wednesday, I thought we were brilliant.

“We worked ever so hard and we missed a great chance and if that went in we would have won.

“What a chance we had to beat Celtic. We were playing really well and the confidence was oozing through the team, but it has been sapped right out of us.

“It was just energy-sapping and we're a fit team, but we looked really leggy and Rangers wanted it more than us."