Giant-killer Kenny adds to beleaguered Rangers’ woes
The Ibrox youth coach took charge of team affairs for the third round tie in the wake of manager Paul Le Guen’s departure after just seven months. However, the former Gers player did not get the positive reaction he was looking for as his beleaguered players slumped to a 3-2 defeat to Stephen Kenny’s side.
While Dunfermline have a fourth round tie with Hearts to look forward to, Rangers are left wondering where they go from here now that their last real hope of silverware has vanished.
Dunfermline sit rock bottom of the SPL and ex-Derry boss Kenny hopes the victory helps kick-start their season.
But he claims the Scottish Cup triumph does not rank alongside his previous achievements as a manager.
“I wouldn’t even put it in my top 10 to be honest,” he said. “It’s a one-off result in a cup competition – it’s not the same as winning a trophy or being in a situation like we’re in just now where we’re trying to survive. But hopefully it will galvanise our season.”
Neither was Kenny discouraged by the tough Cup draw that followed yesterday’s win. “I’m not too disappointed. We’re at home against Hearts. There was nothing in the game last week when we lost 1-0. That’s another day for us and hopefully we can do well.”
Rangers temporary boss Durrant admits they now need a manager capable of dragging the club back to respectability in the second half of what has been a tumultuous campaign.
That man looks certain to be Walter Smith after Scottish FA chief executive David Taylor confirmed they had received an approach from Rangers for the Scotland manager.
Former Gers boss Smith is hotly tipped to be joined by Ally McCoist in his second spell at Ibrox, with the ‘dream team’ expected to be unveiled within the next few days.
“It’s a big job,” admitted Durrant. “But the job is still massive even when we are winning things. It will be a rebuilding job but hopefully we can get the right people in place and the right players in place.
“There are some talented players in the squad but there are departments in the team that are letting us down and that can’t happen.
“Many people were looking at this as our last chance for silverware and it’s disappointing. It would take a miracle to catch Celtic in the SPL, but it’s imperative we finish second and get a bit of respectability about the club again.”
Rangers found themselves three goals down after just 46 minutes with Jim Hamilton, Stephen Simmons and Phil McGuire all grabbing a goal apiece.
A double from Kris Boyd sparked a comeback but the Ibrox side could not find the goal that would extend their stay in the tournament.
McKenzie, Wilson, McGuire, Scott Morrison, Young, Ross, Simmons, Owen Morrison (Woods 67), Crawford, O’Brien (Bamba 76), Hamilton (Daquin 83).
McGregor, Hutton, Rodriguez (Burke 34), Svensson, Murray, Rae, Ferguson, Hemdani, Adam (Buffel 64), Kris Boyd, Novo.
I Brines (Scotland).
Tennent's Scottish Cup (4th round draw): Motherwell v Morton; Dunfermline v Hearts; Inverness CT v Dundee Utd/St Mirren; Falkirk v St Johnstone/ Ayr United; Deveronvale v Partick Thistle; Dundee/Queen of the South v Cowdenbeath/Brechin City; Aberdeen/Hibernian v Gretna; Livingston v Celtic.
* Ties to be played on February 3 and 4.
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