The likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and PSG kicked off their Champions League campaigns, with Old Firm rivals Celtic set to do likewise against Benfica at Parkhead this evening.

At Ibrox last night, Ally McCoist's side had their attentions focused somewhat further down the footballing spectrum as they attempted to book their place in the Ramsdens Cup semi-finals.

It was to prove a task beyond the Gers as Queen of the South clinched a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout win to dump them from the competition in embarrassing fashion.

Defeat condemned McCoist's side to their first major setback of the season and, in truth, they got little more than they deserved as Allan Johnston's Doonhamers recorded one of the biggest wins in their history.

If anyone needed reminding of how far Rangers have fallen in recent months, the proof arrived last night. It was an abject performance from the Gers as they saw their dreams of a remark-able quadruple this season crumble in shocking fashion.

The days of competing in Europe's premier competition may have gone, for now, for the Gers but the hunger for silverware must still be met by McCoist and his players, with the drop down the leagues no reason for them to lower their expectations.

While Rangers' troubles on the road this season have been well versed, with struggles at Brechin, Peterhead, Berwick and Annan on league and cup duty thus far, their fortunes have been far better on familiar territory as they have hit the goal trail in front of a partisan crowd.

The level of opposition may have diminished but an expectant fanbase still demands success, and a level of skill, flair, ambition and drive, from those that are currently occupying the famous blue jerseys. Once again, they never got it.

There will be a degree of understanding at the position McCoist and his squad find themselves in from the Light Blue legions but performances must be maintained at certain standards, with few showings thus far coming up to scratch.

For much of this last eight clash they were once again lacklustre and disappointing, with the supposed gulf in class between the respective sides barely apparent as the Gers laboured against a Queens team who have shown a clinical touch in front of goal this season as they have shot to the top of the Second Division.

Were it not for two decent saves from Neil Alexander, as the Gers No.1 tipped long range efforts from Chris Mitchell and Danny Carmichael over the bar inside the opening 20 minutes, the smattering of dissenting voices at half-time would surely have grown into a larger majority of the 23,392 crowd inside Ibrox on a cold, crisp evening in Glasgow.

Just seconds after the restart, the groans were replaced by silence all around the stadium, apart from the corner where the large Doonhamers travelling support had congregated, as the visitors took a 48th-minute lead, Nicky Clark heading beyond Alexander after meeting a pinpoint Willie Gibson cross from the left flank.

The Rangers response was almost immediate. Just as in their fixtures against East Stirlingshire and Elgin at Ibrox earlier in the campaign, it took the concession of the first goal to spark them into life, with Barrie McKay's equaliser, as he bundled home from a corner, the ideal riposte from McCoist's side.

When Lee McCulloch put them ahead from the spot with 20 minutes to go, it seemed Queens had been condemned to a valiant defeat.

But, after Kevin Kyle saw red for McCoist's men and then Gibson followed him down the tunnel for the visitors, the Palmerston side proved they were still up for the fight, Gavin Reilly netting with the last kick of the game.

The fact the Dumfries team's goal hero was offside before he slid in to send the tie to extra- time undoubtedly added to Rangers' despair.

The extra half-an-hour only served to infuriate the Ibrox crowd, with Rangers failing to break down the Queens rearguard and Alexander once again proving the hero, saving from sub Dan Orsi in the final minute.

It only delayed the moment of triumph for former Rangers star Johnston's men. After Dean Shiels and Anestis Argyriou missed from the spot, Ryan McGuffie emerged as the man of the moment for the visitors as the Ibrox outfit were left to trudge from the field in disbelief and embarrassment.

Rangers will return to the scene of the crime on Sunday as Montrose visit on Third Division duty. It is the ideal time for those on the park to start repaying the loyalty of those who have watched on from the stands this season.