MARTYN WAGHORN insists Rangers’ critics shouldn’t question the mentality of the Ibrox squad in the aftermath of their Old Firm defeat last weekend.

Pedro Caixinha’s side saw their Scottish Cup dreams ended as Celtic ran out comfortable winners at Hampden to move within 90 minutes of a domestic clean sweep this term.

Caixinha revealed afterwards that assistant Helder Baptista urged him to not be too strong in his pre-match team-talk after sensing tension in his players during the warm-up.

Rangers turned in their worst performance of Caixinha’s reign as goals from Callum McGregor and Scott Sinclair won it for the Hoops.

But Waghorn insists the occasion didn’t get to the Light Blues as they prepare for their sixth and final derby clash with Brendan Rodgers’ side this afternoon.

He said: “I wouldn’t say we were on edge. It was just the importance of the game. Everyone wants to get through to a final and we knew the stakes.

“The build-up was also about stopping the Treble. Playing for Rangers, you know how important these games are. It was just one of those days when it got away from us a bit.

“It’s a learning curve. We had young Myles (Beerman) and David (Bates) in the side, while I missed last year’s semi-final. So it was a big learning curve for a lot of us.

“You have to deal with it and accept it wasn’t good enough. Then you have to build on it and use any positives you do have to move forward.

“I don’t think it was about our mentality or down to being tense. It was just the way we started the game. We didn’t get in amongst them as quickly as we should have.

“The early goal put us on the wrong foot and it was always going to be tough.

“Maybe that first goal affected us more than it should have. There was still a lot of time to be played.

“That’s one thing we can learn from. We have to try and react a bit better.”

Celtic make the trip to Ibrox with their sights set on an unbeaten Premiership run as they look to end a successful campaign with two more reasons to celebrate.

But Waghorn insists there is plenty at stake for Caixinha’s side as well after a season to forget for the Light Blues.

He said: “The biggest hope is that we have got a lot of character in the side. We are all disappointed and we don’t want to feel that again.

“It is the last Old Firm game of the season so there is a big incentive for the fans. It is important that we regroup as a team and have a right good go.”