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MANAGER Paul Hartley and midfielder Fraser Fyvie spoke to the media after our 4-0 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox in the third round of the Scottish Cup.

Paul said: ‘When you are going in at half-time 4-0 down you fear the absolute worst.

“Credit to the players for reacting properly after that.

“When we spoke to them at half-time, we asked if they could look to get a clean sheet in the second half because Rangers were relentless against us.

“We were totally dominated by a very, very good team.

“Some of our players won’t have faced that quality of players before – and might not face it again in terms of Rangers’ movement, rotation, pressing and counter pressing.

“We were well beaten, but we never gave up.

“We kept a good shape about us and did things much better in the second half.”

Fraser said: “We tried our best.

“But at the end of the day Rangers are the best team in the country and put in a really professional performance.

“They are the best Rangers side I have seen for as far back as I can remember.

“We had 19-year-olds and 20-year-olds, a lot of kids on the pitch, so it was a great experience for them playing against the quality of players Rangers have.

“We could do a wee bit better, especially with the goals but we had a really young back four in there and I’m sure they will learn from it, the experience of playing against someone like Jermain Defoe.

“We at least came to try and play and try to play our style but when you go three or four down it becomes about damage limitation.

“We did that in the second half, that was a half decent performance because we kept a clean sheet.

“We are disappointed to lose but we have to just take it and move on.

“It was always a free hit for us, we have always said the league is more important for us.”

The manager confirmed midfielder Jamie Masson, who was stretchered off during the second half at Ibrox, will get a scan on an ankle injury this afternoon.

Captain Mitch Megginson and fellow striker Leighton McIntosh also suffered knocks and are doubts for Tuesday evening’s League One visit to Clyde.

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