IT was better, but ultimately not good enough. Once again, it was an opportunity missed, a case of what might have been for Rangers.

Graeme Murty’s side went into their meeting with Celtic in fine form and high in confidence. Having seen their winning run come to an end, they must now ensure there is not a prolonged adverse effect on their morale.

The disappointment and frustration was clear as Murty and then Greg Docherty assessed and analysed where it all went wrong for Rangers. In the aftermath of an Old Firm defeat, the positive moments are quickly forgotten about.

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Ahead twice in the first half through terrific strikes from Josh Windass and Daniel Candeias, Rangers should have had at least a point to show for their efforts at Ibrox.

Instead, it was Celtic who had all three as they recovered from the loss of Jozo Simunovic to earn another derby triumph thanks to goals from Tom Rogic, Moussa Dembele and then Odsonne Edouard.

“It is extremely tough to take, especially in the circumstances and us having a man advantage,” Docherty said.

“We didn’t make the most of that for some reason, we slowed down when they went to ten men, which isn’t like us. That is the really disappointing thing.

“Particularly their second and third goals, we should be dealing with them better so it is a very disappointed dressing room.

“We should have made more of our chances but when you take the lead twice at home you expect to come away with three points, or a point minimum. That is disappointing.

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“It was a big chance for us, we were ahead twice but ultimately we have come away with nothing. Sometimes that is what football is like and we just have to pick ourselves up.”

That recovery process will begin this morning but for someone like Docherty, a boyhood supporter who knows exactly what the Old Firm encounter means, it will be a tough period.

The midfielder has experienced many highs since he made the move from Hamilton in January but a derby defeat will undoubtedly be the lowest he has felt in Light Blue.

Like his team-mates, Docherty couldn’t be faulted for effort. When it mattered most, Rangers just didn’t have what was required, though.

Docherty said: “I am hurting at the moment so it is not one I will remember fondly.

“Of course it was a proud moment but ultimately we didn’t come away with the points that we needed and that we wanted. I will try and forget about this one and look to the next one now.

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“Obviously he (Murty) spoke to us and a few harsh words were said, which was right, as a group not individually. We all know as players, everybody knows, it was a chance for us.

“Losing an Old Firm game is never going to be nice and it is a sour taste at the moment. We just have to move on.”

This wasn’t the first big test that Rangers have failed to pass this season but it was undoubtedly a real opportunity missed for Murty’s side.

The Light Blues twice gave up their advantage and then fell behind when Edouard capitalised on another moment of defensive slackness with 20 minutes remaining.

Unfortunately for Murty, the third goal would never arrive for Rangers, with the late miss from Alfredo Morelos – the striker hitting the post after Scott Bain had parried an effort from Windass – proving to be Rangers’ last opening of an end-to-end encounter.

Docherty said: “It was a chance for him but we missed chances before that as well. That was a chance but, as a team, we missed too many before that and we slowed down our play, for whatever reason.

Read more: Matthew Lindsay: Rangers, not just Alfredo Morelos, missed a great opportunity against Celtic and will pay the price

“When we got in behind, we made a chance like that. That is the annoying thing because it came so late in the game and we should have been doing that in the 15, 20 minutes beforehand.

“Strikers miss them, it happens. As a team, it wasn’t good enough from all of us.”

With the Premiership title now out of reach for Rangers, Murty must ensure his side can quickly regroup for the league and Scottish Cup challenges that lie ahead.

The Gers remain in pole position to finish best of the rest this term, while Celtic also stand between them and another Hampden final.

And Docherty is determined the reaction will be a positive one at Ibrox as Murty’s side look to get back on track sooner rather than later.

He said: “We focus on ourselves and no matter who the opponent is we want to win the game. We go ahead twice and should win the game, that is the end of the story.

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“It is extremely disappointing and we have to pick ourselves up. It might take a while but there is a big game next week against Kilmarnock, who are doing well and will be right up for it coming here. We have to bounce back.

“It is maybe a good thing that [the semi-final] is so soon but we will go into that game and prepare well. We are hurting now, of course.

“We will go into it aiming to win, as we do every single game, no matter who the opponent is. Obviously it is another chance for us, it is a semi-final, and hopefully we can come away with the win.”