Reflections on a Scottish Cup Quarter-final

It's famously been 80 years since Albion Rovers last reached a Scottish Cup quarter-final. Standing between them on this occasion was the might of Rangers, a club that (in its former guise, at least) has done rather better in the intervening eight decades.

Of course, few among the Albion Rovers faithful were expecting a win but we were hoping that the team would give a better account of itself than it did in the 4-0 reversal earlier in the season in the League Cup. Rovers-Rangers games are something like buses - you wait ages for them and then two come along in quick succession.

The Rovers team warms up

I arrived at Ibrox early, to soak in something of the "atmosphere" - which only served to remind me why I support Albion Rovers (and Morton, my "second" team). Everywhere were expressions of the supposed joys of sectarianism, and that supporting Rangers has something to do with a gross misunderstanding of the complexities of Northern Irish politics. The Rangers fans came with their banners proclaiming their (to me, rather confused) identity, while the Albion Rovers contingent were obviously simply out to enjoy themselves.

Ah, the joys of sectarianism!

It is not only the misplaced identity with sectarianism that I struggle with, the the near tangible sense of entitlement that many Rangers fans still seem to have. Sitting just feet away from Rangers supporters, it was difficult to avoid hearing some of the asides aimed at us an our "wee team". Yes, a team that - until the end of last season - was playing in a higher division than they were. Some Rangers fans were already dismissing the opposition and talking about where they would want to be sitting at the final. Still, these are supporters and at least one of them appears only to buy a ticket to have an opportunity to goad the visiting fans - not once during the entire 90 minutes did he once look at the game...but surely those running club are now free from such arrogance? They will have a bit more insight into their current circumstances, yes?

Erm, no. In his programme notes captain Lee McCulloch reflected on the embarrassment of drawing with Stenhousemuir, while also making a comparision of sorts with Albion Rovers: "it is 80 years since Rovers reached the last eight...but it's going on five years now since we last won the Cup and for Rangers that is too long." OK. So, "wee" clubs like ours can wait almost a century for a semi-final and that's fine, but Rangers, well, they're such a special club that it's completely wrong that their supposed divine right to win everything has evaporated. Not much humility in that statement from the Rangers captain, but enough of an arrogant sense of self-entitlement to make every Rovers fan reading those words to hope our team can bring him down a peg or two.

The teams line up. 

But that's enough of Rangers. Let's talk about the game.

Rovers kicked off and within two minutes almost took the lead when Liam Cusack's well-hit shot flew wide of the Rangers goal. Rangers, not taking this warning very seriously, threw a great deal forward looking for the opening goal. By some miracle, and some incredibly astute and solid defending, Rangers don't score. And then, on 13 minutes, another miracle happens: Rovers string a few League Two passes together and win a corner. From the resulting corner, Lee McCulloch (yes, him) connects with the cross - commiting the schoolboy error of attempting a pass across the face of a crowded goal - and Ciaran Donnelly connects to give us the lead.

Our first quarter-final in 80 years? Let's have a party!

This takes everyone by surprise, including the Rovers fans. We all forgot where we were and started singing. Not accustomed to loud renditions of non-sectarian songs, a few of the Rangers fans tried to tell some of our more vocal supporters that they didn't appreciate visiting support making quite so much noise. Not that we cared.

Rangers obviously expected that all they had to do was keep possession and wait for us to meekly capitulate. This is the only way that I can satisfactorily explain their unadventurous tactics of aiming predictable crosses at static forwards, and resorting to pot shots from outside the box. On the rare occasions that they did work openings, the finishing was profligate to say the least. It was as if Peter van Vossen and Erik Bo Anderson were making comebacks.

The Rovers defence stood firm, making a string of heroic tackles and interventions. Our keeper, Neil Parry, was in good form and looked to increase in confidence as the match wore on. At half-time, with the score at 1-0 and Rangers' lack of imagination clear for all to see, Rovers fans started to believe it could be our day.

The scoreboard tells the story. As do the emptying stands.

And it deserved to be. But for a controversial incident on 78 minutes both teams would have got what they deserved: Rangers, elimination from the competition (they did, however, get the fully merited treatment from their own fans) and for Rovers a semi-final place (although the chairman will be happy with the financial rewards of a replay). Unfortunately, a hopeful hoof upfield was chased by the hugely unimpressive Bilel Mohsni who appeared to either collide with the goalkeeper or handle the ball on its way into the net. For a few seconds, no-one was quite sure what was happening. And then, without consulting his assistant, the referee walked off towards the centre circle.

I've watched the replays several times. My reaction at the time was that the referee had made an enormous mistake. On reviewing the evidence, I don't see how the referee can have allowed it to stand - at least not without consulting the better-placed man on the line. It's questionable whether Mohsni made much contact at all, but if he did it's with his arm. And if that isn't a foul on the keeper, then nothing is. I suppose it isn't for nothing that Scottish referees were sponsored by Specsavers.

Rangers didn't endear themselves to us with their unsportsmanlike conduct. When Parry put the ball out of play for a player to receive treatment, we didn't expect for Rangers not only to refuse to return the ball but launch an attack. And when Chris Dallas went down injured, the pitiful attempts from some Rangers fans to suggest he was timewasting when he'd just been forced out of the biggest game of his career were a bit much.

Throughout the match, Rangers fans made their feelings known. They were less than impressed, as well they might be. It might have been sporting if some of them applauded the Rovers' players efforts at the final whistle, but by that point many had already left and were now on twitter and facebook, talking about meltdown and crisis because a "joke team" had out-thought, if not out-played, them. Fortunately the Rovers fans, still in party mood, stayed behind and applauded their team.

It was a historic occasion. Personally, after already beating Motherwell and Stenhousemuir in the previous rounds I'd have preferred anyone other than Rangers away in the quarter-finals simply because I have little truck for what Rangers represent on a commercial and cultural level. Dumbarton at home would have been perfect! However, I am proud to have seen my team in the quarter-finals of a Scottish Cup - something that many Rovers supporters have never experienced - and to have been just 12 minutes away from an improbable semi-final place was incredible.

It's the final whistle and Albion Rovers have won - 1-1!
(You get the point.)

Seeing Ally McCoist on TV defending the referee's decision just underlines what a great day it was for us.

We now have a replay at home (wherever that will be - almost definitely not Cliftonhill) and we'll have to do it all again. We know Rangers are beatable.

Thanks should go to the stewards who were fantastic toward the visiting support, and to Rovers themselves for the tremendous way they attempted to ensure that every Rovers fan, even exiled supporters, had the opportunity to be at such a historic game. Jeers, however, to the TV crew who, having the Scottish Cup in their possession allowed Rangers fans the opportunity to have their pictures taken with it, without thinking that some Rovers' fans might like the same opportunity.

The best thing about this quarter-final was not simply that we got something of a result. It was that, at the end of it, it was not just about Rangers. We were not simply a team that had got that far only to capitulate to a supposedly "big" club for the dubious privilege of being labeled "plucky" by the Daily Record. The team, the club and our fans did themselves, Coatbridge and Scottish football proud. Well done, everyone!