There is a danger that some Rangers fans may be reading too much into last night’s defeat to Hibs at Easter Road. Despite the old cliche, it was far-removed from being a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final.
Yes, there is the old mantra that at a club the size of Rangers you are expected to win every game, but surely the gargantuan effort expelled by their players just three days prior to last night’s match at Easter Road has earned them a little grace?
The vast majority of Rangers supporters may have grudgingly accepted the loss at Easter Road, and understood the reasons behind it, but there were more than a few supporters criticising the side in the aftermath of the game. There’s nowt as fickle as the football fan right enough.
Hibs had 24 hours longer to recover from their own 120 minute duel at Hampden, and it was clear that they were just a little (but not markedly) sharper than their opponents on the night.
Mark Warburton may have played down the effects of Sunday’s Old Firm tussle on his players after the match, but it had clearly taken a mental toll as his side’s levels of concentration slipped massively for all three of the goals, especially the first two, that they conceded on the night.
For all intents and purposes, the match was a dead rubber for the Ibrox men, whereas Hibs still have the carrot of trying to avoid two extra matches prior to the cup final by catching Falkirk in second-place in the Championship. They needed the points more, and that saw them over the line with the aid of some dodgy defending from their fatigued opponents.
Will the result have any bearing on the Scottish Cup final? Of course not. Hibs may take a slight boost from the win, but they already knew that they had players who could hurt Rangers on their day, and their manager Alan Stubbs is realistic enough to know that the Rangers side he comes up against on the 21st May will be a different animal.
The biggest problem for Mark Warburton may be maintaining his players’ focus and sharpness before the final. Rangers play their last competitive game prior to the big day on May 1st at St Mirren, almost three weeks before the Hampden showdown. Despite the old cliche, it was far-removed from being a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final.
All going well for Hibs, they will have competitive football right up to the week of the final and even beyond if they are in the play-off final too.
Of course, you could argue that could have a negative effect on Alan Stubb’s side, but at least he knows his men will be firing on all cylinders throughout the month.
It will be interesting to see how the Rangers boss handles the next three fixtures against Alloa, Livingston and the Saints. Does he rest his certain starters now in an attempt to keep them fresh, or does he squeeze every last bit of competitive action out of them with the three-week layoff ahead?
Whatever he decides to do, and even if results don’t go well in those fixtures, the Rangers support – as they mainly have - should cut their squad a little slack.
As long as Mark Warburton doesn’t allow complacency to become deep-rooted before the final, they have earned the right to a little respite.
Come May 21st, last night’s result will be forgotten, and we’ll see a contest that gives a truer reflection of both side’s capabilities.
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