Late drama unfolded at Ibrox as Callum Ferrie’s stoppage-time penalty save handed Queen’s Park a stunning victory over Rangers, dashing the Gers’ hopes of silverware.
This result may well mark the nadir of Philippe Clement’s reign at Rangers, with Queen’s Park producing one of the most memorable Scottish Cup shocks in recent memory. Although Sebatsian Drozd’s second-half goal played a role, it was Rangers’ failure to respond in stoppage time that ultimately sealed their fate, leaving the home fans booing in disappointment.
The first half was a battle. Early attempts from Mo Diomande, a mishandled ball by Vaclav Cerny, and Ianis Hagi’s effort—cleared off the line by Jack Turner—were as close as Rangers came to breaking the deadlock, while Liam Kelly watched from the bench. After the interval, Queen’s Park began linking passes and emerging as a real threat. A low cross from Ryan Duncan nearly found Kyle Hurst on a sliding run that would have punished Rangers’ lethargic defending.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, the breakthrough seemed inevitable. Drozd maneuvered through a cluster of Rangers defenders and sent the ball past Kelly after bypassing a valiant Jefte, who lunged too late.
Following that goal, panic set in for Rangers as Queen’s Park looked set to run out the clock. Callum Ferrie held off a late drive from Igamane at his near post, while Nico Raskin squandered a chance by blasting over. In stoppage time, Cyriel Dessers broke through again, but Ferrie produced a superb save to force a corner. The Queen’s Park keeper then denied Vaclav Cerny twice as Rangers finally tried to inject some urgency into their play. When Dessers went down in the box and a penalty was awarded—despite only soft contact—James Tavernier’s usually precise effort fell short, with Ferrie making another stunning save after an agonizing VAR check confirmed it.
Here are three key talking points from what was a disastrous day at Ibrox for Clement:
- Bailey Rice’s Underwhelming Impact: Although fans were excited to see Bailey Rice included in the starting XI, he lasted only 45 minutes before being substituted. In an overall sluggish display from Rangers, Rice failed to seize his opportunity—especially after his impressive cameo at Old Trafford just a couple of weeks ago. This game underscored the need for the young guns to make a decisive impact, as relying on resting senior players only left the team struggling.
- The Puzzling Decline of Clement’s Rangers: Just when it seemed that Rangers were turning the corner under Philippe Clement, this shock defeat has thrown their progress into question. This result, arguably the worst of his tenure, is a stark reminder of how inconsistent Ibrox performances have become, even in matches that should be routine wins. With Rangers remaining well behind Celtic in the league and their League Cup hopes slipping away to rivals, the mounting evidence is raising serious doubts about Clement’s ability to deliver trophies.
- Davidson’s Cup Masterclass: Former St Johnstone manager Davidson is increasingly being seen as a cup specialist. He famously helped knock Rangers out en route to a behind-closed-doors Scottish Cup win in 2021—part of a double-winning season that also saw St Johnstone lift the League Cup. Now, despite serving a touchline ban and watching from the stands at Ibrox, Davidson has once again masterminded an upset against Rangers. This performance may well rank as one of the greatest achievements in his career and in Queen’s Park’s storied history.
