IT was a chance at redemption, an opportunity to write their names in the history books. Once again, it was one that Rangers failed to take.

A squad that has underperformed and underachieved this term couldn’t make amends in their biggest 90 minutes of the season.

Defeat to Celtic ended Rangers’ ambitions of Scottish Cup glory. Only time will tell how many in Light Blue get another crack at it.

A campaign that started with hope will end with Rangers empty handed. The Premiership silverware has never been within touching distance, while two semi-final losses to their Old Firm rivals were gut-wrenching culminations to their cup runs.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha: Rangers players were mentally blocked ahead of Celtic clashGlasgow Times:

Pedro Caixinha set his sights on a winner’s medal and second place in the top flight when he was announced as Mark Warburton’s successor last month. It looks likely he will be left disappointed on both counts.

It is the battle to finish best of the rest that is Rangers’ only fight now in the coming weeks. Even if it is won, it will be scant consolation to take from an unacceptable campaign.

Events at Hampden summed up their season. In the end, they just weren’t good enough.

Goals from Callum McGregor and Scott Sinclair won it for Celtic but it could easily have been worse for Rangers as they were second best throughout.

The task of closing the gap lies with Caixinha. His first few weeks at the helm will have shaped his thinking and he will spend the remaining Premiership fixtures finalising his plans for a crucial summer of transfer activity.

The 1-1 draw at Parkhead gave Rangers encouragement heading to Hampden and a base upon which Caixinha has looked to build after he watched on from the stands. This defeat proved how big the rebuilding job is.

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The fourth derby clash was the best performance that Rangers had put in against Brendan Rodgers’ side this term and an approach that owed as much to endeavour as it did skill. That should have been the blueprint that Caixinha started with this week as he prepared for the fifth.

The news that Wes Foderingham had been passed fit to play was undoubtedly a bonus for Caixinha, although the loss of Jon Toral, who has come onto a game in recent weeks, forced him to change things in the middle of the park as Andy Halliday returned to the scene of his finest performance in Light Blue.

Much of the build-up has focused on how David Bates and Myles Beerman would handle the occasion and an in-form Celtic forward line. It was always going to take a team effort from Rangers, though, and Caixinha needed every player to stand up and be counted.

Rangers couldn’t afford to let Celtic settle in the game and pop the ball about the Hampden pitch but a sluggish start offered little encouragement to the Light Blue legions.

The Gers were content to drop off when Celtic had the ball in their own half and when it was shuttled into midfield they couldn’t get close to their opposite numbers in green and white.

The early warning signs were there for Rangers but they failed to prevent McGregor opening the scoring. Danny Wilson and Bates both tracked the run of Moussa Dembele but nobody followed McGregor as he collected the striker’s knockdown and found the corner of Foderingham’s net.

Rangers didn’t do enough without the ball and hardly had a chance to do anything with it. Almost every pass was a pressure one, most touches heavy ones as Celtic strolled through the first half.

Read more: Pedro Caixinha: Rangers players were mentally blocked ahead of Celtic clash

Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn offered little threat, although they were both starved of service as Halliday, who had to tread carefully after a third minute booking for a challenge on Patrick Roberts, Holt and Hyndman struggled to influence proceedings.

Caixinha has shown that he is not afraid to make big calls before or during games so far and he would have had plenty to ponder as he made his way back down the tunnel. He had a problem to solve and he hoped he had two answers.

The afternoon was over for Halliday and Garner and neither could have had any complaints. The introductions of Joe Dodoo and Barrie McKay wouldn’t have been greeted with any grumbles amongst a disappointed support.

A foray forward brought a roar of encouragement. It was the other end of Hampden that was soon celebrating, though.

James Tavernier could have no complaints as he brought down Leigh Griffiths and Willie Collum pointed to the spot. Foderingham got a hand to Sinclair’s penalty but the ball hit the post and crossed the line. The game was done for Rangers.

It was a case of damage limitation for Caixinha now. The wounds were self-inflicted and they wouldn’t be repaired at Hampden.

Kenny Miller saw a header saved by Craig Gordon in what was Rangers’ best chance to date. It says it all that it didn’t come until the hour mark.

Gordon smothered an effort from McKay and then watched a lob from Miller go over his head and land on the roof of his net. A penalty appeal for handball by Simunovic was waved away by Collum and Dodoo tried his luck from distance. It was a late rally but it never looked like becoming a dramatic rescue act.

Five Old Firm games have delivered four defeats now for Rangers. With the sixth and final just days away, there is little time to recover and regroup.

Half a dozen derbies without victory would be the final embarrassment from a forgettable season. Rangers have one more chance to avoid that unwanted record.