IAN MURRAY expressed his pride in his players as Raith Rovers saw their Scottish Cup campaign come to an end at Ibrox.
The Championship side exited the competition at the quarter-final stage as Rangers emerged victorious from a low-key encounter with a comfortable win.
Connor Goldson headed Michael Beale’s side in front just before the break and an unfortunate own goal from Ryan Nolan ended the match as a contest.
Scott Arfield completed the scoring in the closing minutes to ensure Rangers safely negotiated their way into the last four of the competition and the draw on Monday evening.
Raith overcame Motherwell to book their place in the quarter-finals but an even bigger scalp was never on the cards as Murray’s side now turn their attentions to the closing stages of their league campaign.
Murray said: “We are disappointed to be out of the Scottish Cup. We wanted to go further obviously.
“But my emotion right now is pride in the football players, I thought they were excellent.
“I thought the discipline and the shape and structure they carried out was great.
“Also pride in the supporters we brought today and the appreciation they showed us towards the end.
“It’s been a tough season, we had to rebuild a little bit. We all know what happened last season at Raith Rovers and we are trying to rebuild the football club.
“Delighted. We bring in a young boy Adam Masson at right back who was at school this time last year.
“Then we put on Greig Young, who was on loan the first half of the season at Elgin City. I commend them both for the way they applied themselves.
“It’s very daunting to come here and play in front or 45,000 or 50,000 and try to stick to the basics and not get nervous. But to a man I thought our players gave everything within the game.
“But I said to the players that this wouldn’t be a game which would define our season. It just gives us a grounding for the final quarter and if we work like that we will be okay.”
