A full day after the latest disappointment for Rangers, the dust is settling but the fallout will continue for some time yet.
A major missed opportunity, another lacklustre show from the players, mistakes made by the manager. It was very much a day to forget for all at the club.
With the first silverware of the season on the line, this was a great chance for Michael Beale to chalk up a significant win. Getting the better of Celtic would have given them something to think about with the opportunity for some doubt in terms of the remainder of the Premiership campaign.
That chance was squandered.
Success breeds confidence. Success is about winning when it really matters. Cup finals are all about winning, nothing else.
Yesterday’s loss means that Rangers have now won just two of a possible 13 domestic trophies since the 2018/19 season. That was when Steven Gerrard commenced his work at restoring the club’s fortunes, having inherited a threadbare squad lacking the required levels.
In the space of the four and half seasons since, Rangers have only competed in three domestic finals with only one success.
The squad is more used to losing in cups than winning, with seven of the starting line-up on Sunday also starting the 2019 League Cup decider against the same opponents. Same outcome.
Michael Beale has a huge job to do in terms of securing progress over the next few months. He needs to be ruthless in terms of decisions on players, with a few having no real case for a future at the club. He also has to learn quickly from his own errors.
Retaining the Scottish Cup is essential, nothing else will do on that front given the steep uphill task that represents any realistic prospects of a late title fight.
With the first taste of defeat, Beale’s focus must sharpen to ensure that the trends such as those above do not continue. That is the significant challenge ahead for the Rangers boss.