Terrors tear Gers apart as club crisis deepens

Rangers plunged deeper into crisis after crashing out of the Scottish Cup as goals from Gavin Gunning and Johnny Russell secured a 2-0 win for Dundee United at Ibrox.

Ally McCoist’s men had already exited the Champions League, the Europa League and the Scottish League Cup, meaning the Scottish Premier League title is now their only hope of silverware this season.

McCoist admitted the club is in a difficult place but said the players will dig in to turn results around.

He said: “The players are fine. They just get the sleeves rolled up and get on with it. That’s the only way we go.

“The players are disappointed but, come Monday morning, we’ll get back into training and go ahead.

“This club has had problems in the past but it’s determination and grit and a lot of qualities that we have in that dressing room that will see us through this.”

A lack of resources up front following the deadline day departure of Nikica Jelavic was painfully evident as they ended this tie with a front pairing of Salim Kerkar and Andrew Little — one player who has never started a game for the club, another who has been injured for the best part of 18 months.

In front of a crowd of just 17,822, Rangers made one change from last week’s win over Hibernian: Mervan Celik, the club’s only January recruit, was handed his first start.

United were celebrating with 15 minutes gone when Gunning met a Gary Mackay-Steven cross and sent a firm header past Allan McGregor from eight yards.

The visitors scored again after 35 minutes when Dixon slipped the ball into the path of the unmarked Russell and he took advantage of the space to rifle high past the grasp of McGregor.

RANGERS: McGregor, Bartley, Goian, Bocanegra, Papac (Wylde 69), Celik (Kerkar 45), Davis, Edu, Wallace, Healy (Little 60), Aluko.

DUNDEE UTD: Pernis, Neilson, Kenneth, Gunning (Dillon 90), Dixon, Armstrong (Flood 76), Robertson, Rankin, Mackay-Steven (Lacny 88), Daly, Russell.

Referee: William Collum.