Annan Athletic player-manager Willie Gibson praised his side’s attitude and application despite a heavy Scottish Cup defeat to Rangers at Ibrox, insisting the experience can help drive the club forward for the rest of the season.
Facing a Rangers team packed with quality, Gibson knew his players were in for a tough night – but he was encouraged by how they approached the occasion.
“We knew we were going to be up against it,” Gibson said.
“For large parts of the game, we did really well. It was just the quality told in the end.”
Gibson felt his League 2 side’s movement and effort were strong, but Rangers superior quality eventually shone through.
“We knew their movement was really sharp. We knew they were going to try and drag us out, because if they were sitting in, they were going to break us down.
You could tell the difference in quality between the two sides,” he admitted.
Despite the scoreline, Gibson was proud of how his players represented the club on such a big stage.
“I was proud of the players. It was a shame about the scoreline,” he said.
“The application and the attitude of the players throughout was excellent. The boys have been a credit to themselves in the lead-up to the game.”
His message to the squad before kick-off was simple: “I just said to them tonight to go out there, work hard and enjoy it. I think every player did that.”
One of the most memorable aspects of the night for Annan was the incredible support they received, with almost 1,100 fans travelling to Ibrox.
“Just a massive thank you,” Gibson said. “They sold nearly 1,100 tickets. It was amazing.”
The manager was particularly touched by the reaction of the supporters after the final whistle.
“It’s not often all the fans are staying. We clapped the side off after getting beat and that was really a nice touch from the fans at the end,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Gibson believes the experience can help push Annan forward in League 2, especially with the squad now strengthening.
“Hopefully it just kicks us on,” he said. “Over the last six weeks we’ve been performing really well and had a good run of results.”
He also revealed new additions are helping increase competition within the squad.
“I’ve brought on our two new faces this morning. We might be looking for one more to complete the squad. There’s competition in different places.”
Despite sitting seventh in the table, Gibson pointed to Annan’s games in hand as a major opportunity in the fourth tier.
“We’ve got two games in hand. If we win them, we’ll go into fourth, and that takes us into the play-offs, where we want to be,” he explained.
Gibson also reflected on a moment of quality from Rangers that left him with little choice but to admire the finish.
“The penalties were a sore one to take, and then Aasgaard’s quality there,” he said.
“I was in the wall telling the guys to jump because he’s not going to go under it. He sticks it on top, and fair play to the boy – you’ve just got to take your hat off.”
For Gibson personally, the Ibrox experience was another chapter in his long career – one he embraced despite the result.
“I’ve played here a few times and sampled a few defeats,” he admitted.
“You’ve just got to hold your head high. If you go out there, apply yourself, work hard and show you’re a good person, that’s all I can ask.”