IN the end, there were no words. In truth, none were needed and none would have made a difference. Once again, Rangers’ actions spoke the loudest and said it all.

In the aftermath of the 4-0 defeat to Celtic at Hampden earlier this month, it was left to captain James Tavernier to address the media and, fair play to him, he fronted up, said about all he could and then joined his team-mates on the bus home.

Yesterday, everyone in Light Blue headed straight for the exit door. There was no press conference from manager Graeme Murty or chance to speak to a player, not even one whose purpose was to apologise to the fans for what they had just witnessed.

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The words would have been hollow, though. They have been uttered too many times for them to mean anything to a support that have been let down time after time by those they cheer on from the stands.

They arrived at Parkhead more in hope than expectation, trying to convince themselves that this was the day they could end their long wait for an Old Firm win and, in the process, delay Celtic’s crowning moment as Premiership champions.

Like in the semi-final just a few weeks ago, though, all they could do was watch on helplessly as their side were outplayed and outclassed and a seventh consecutive title was secured by Brendan Rodgers’ side.

This was every bit as humbling and humiliating as the Hampden horror show for a fanbase that have seen it all and been through it all in recent years. It was abject, it was embarrassing.

There was no surprise in what unfolded. It has happened before, and it will happen again unless the right man is in the dugout and the right players are on the park.

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It is perhaps for the best that Murty had to keep his thoughts to himself post-match and that the message from the dressing room was one of silence.

No excuses could have been offered and none would have been accepted by a support that are disheartened and disillusioned at present.

When Rangers really had a chance to do their talking, they once again came up well, well short and the end of the campaign can’t come quick enough now.

When you lose an Old Firm game 5-0 and your keeper is still one of the few players to emerge with any modicum of credit, you know how bad a day it has been.

Had Jak Alnwick not made a handful of saves in the second half, the history books would have been rewritten and Celtic would have been toasting a record win over Rangers as well as a fifth trophy under Rodgers’ guidance.

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Shambolic at the back, overrun in midfield and shot-shy up front, Rangers contributed nothing at Parkhead. The effort, for most, was there but the quality just isn’t.

For many, this will prove to be their final Old Firm experience and when the summer clear-out commences few can have any complaints at being told they are surplus to requirements.

In the eyes of the supporters, they have had one chance too many and blown them all and they don’t deserve yet another shot at redemption against their biggest rivals.

Three games – at home to Kilmarnock and away to Aberdeen and Hibernian – have still to be played but Murty faces an impossible task in the final fortnight of the season.

His side have taken one body blow too many, suffered more than their share of heartaches, to recover and win all three matches.

Second place should never be accepted at Ibrox, but fourth in the Premiership is now expected. It is almost impossible to see how this manager and this side can rise to any challenge that is put in front of them now.

After that night in Luxembourg, semi-final defeats to Motherwell and Celtic and this demolition derby, finishing with three teams above them in the league would be the final ignominy for Rangers this term.

A new era will soon begin at Ibrox but the fear for supporters is that it will be the same old story next time around. As their banners last weekend stated, they deserve better.