THE Rangers support had experienced either extreme of emotion in the footballing playbook leading into yet another domestic cup failure yesterday afternoon.

The initial disdain and disbelief that developed as Steven Gerrard’s departure for Aston Villa became evident. Followed by unequivocal and unanimous excitement at Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s return a week later.

That on the back of a season which has so regularly tempted the forming of negative conclusions - as Martin Boyle converted a hat-trick chance before the 40-minute mark, hope had evaporated again.

The ground where success has now for over a decade proved elusive, one of the two competitions which has restrained this squad from truly being identified as winners. Connor Goldson’s post-match comments, more repetition in concession and predictability in possession - so much went wrong on a day that was supposed to focus on celebrating the arrival of a new dawn.

Previous cup exits have been heart-breaking, unfortunate, or [as Zander Clark will testify too] unnatural. None were as bad or deserved as this.

Seas of supporters dressed head to toe in orange had descended on Glasgow’s southside in fine voice and mood. 35,000 were in attendance and owed a performance at the national stadium. Van Bronckhorst didn’t want to disrupt preparations and so took his seat in a box behind the hospitality section. Rising only briefly in response to cries of ‘Gio’ from onlookers.

He would bear witness to a 90-minute performance that summarised the extent of the job he inherits. A more condensed and complete briefing couldn’t be found than this innings as a team in desperate need of change and direction faltered to defeat.

READ MORE: Connor Goldson’s Rangers blast in full as defender admits team have ‘lost hunger’

James Tavernier, interim manager David McCallum and Ross Wilson had all addressed the positive in-house transition following Gerrard’s departure. This was to be when the one-club approach showed its merit – thanks to similarities in the coaching and system in place at B team level.

“The training this week hasn’t really changed much and I’m sure the tactics tomorrow won’t really change that much either,” Tavernier said in his pre-game Saturday press conference. That, in short, was the problem. The Ibrox side were predictable and beaten within 38 minutes.

Leon Balogun lost the initial contact at a set-piece as the game went 1-0, Tavernier seemed to try and cushion the ball back to Allan McGregor which meant Martin Boyle was able to nick in and score.

12 minutes on from a throw-in, Jack Ross’ side worked the ball into a dangerous zone with ease as either opposing centre-back was bypassed completely. Vertical runs proved the defence’s undoing and Boyle tucked a shot across McGregor.

In possession, problems were just as prevalent. The lack of width on show was stark, with neither full-back able to play high enough to justify the central cluster of attacking players. Slow, ponderous possession afforded Hibs the opportunity to congest the middle and jump across to either Tavernier or Borna Barisic.

The approach hadn’t changed much if at all – but not for the better. Alfredo Morelos lost the physical battle all afternoon and offered nothing throughout. He was a shadow of the rampaging, if incomplete, performance the last time he visited Hampden.

The struggles felt against two centre-forwards would show for the third too. Balogun was dragged into midfield by Kevin Nisbet, Goldson stepped up and lost possession before Boyle was fouled in the box by Steven Davis. “Almost unexplainable” was McCallum’s judgement of the trio of strikes. But all were easily contextualised within this season.

READ MORE: 3 burning Rangers issues as lamentable defensive showing sends Hibs to final

But this is the problem in a nutshell. Ross’ side knew to a letter the approach their opponents would use and scripted their game plan to expose vulnerabilities. As St Mirren had done so with such success before an in-game tactical change recently, or Aberdeen managed prior to a late equaliser at Ibrox last month.

Scott Arfield’s goal before half-time offered realistic hope. Two goals was not an insurmountable task at that point, but the chance was only forthcoming following Ryan Porteous’ mistake. Rangers didn’t play as though they believed redemption was possible and changes from the sideline seemed to only confuse proceedings.

Such suspicions were verbalised by Goldson post-match in an interview that only further aggravated supporters.

“We can be in there at half-time and say believe in ourselves blah, blah, blah but the game is over at 3-0, 3-1 down at half-time,” he said.

“We need a spark. I feel like, and I don’t want to say this but we have lost a bit of hunger. All of a sudden we are champions and we don’t need to work as hard which is wrong and I feel like that has crept in this season.”

How could this group be any more hungry to win at Hampden? How is one trophy together in any way justification for a downing of tools? And more importantly, how on earth does this aid the incoming manager who must now seemingly reinspire the dressing room he inherits?

Goldson's side played thereafter like the game was over. Without urgency and void of ideas. It was only two months ago that they'd scored twice in a second-half against Hibs, why was the prospect yesterday so unbelievable? 

Van Bronckhorst starts today and will need to make big decisions - an all or nothing European tie is there to be won in three days. His stamp is needed on this team more than ever. A reset is required.