'We didn't get the result we deserved today': Danny Rohl left dejected as Rangers pay the penalty in Scottish Cup loss to rivals Celtic
A despondent Danny Rohl says Rangers failed to get what they deserved after being beaten on penalties by rivals Celtic on a dramatic day at Ibrox.
The Light Blues crashed out of the Scottish Cup to their city rivals after the tie finished goalless after 120 minutes.
Missed penalties by James Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama proved costly for Rohl’s men as Celtic kept their composure by netting all four of their own to reach the semi-final stage.
There were chaotic scenes after the game as hundreds of Rangers and Celtic fans spilled onto the pitch before calm was restored.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Rohl who believed his side deserved to progress.
He told Premier Sports after the game: "The result is disappointing. A shootout is always a little bit of luck. We were the better team for 120 minutes, 24 shots to their one. All the things you need in football.
"We played a really good game, but football is about results and we didn't get the result we deserved today.
"Next week we go again, we have nine finals to go. We play this way again and again, we have a big opportunity to take something this year."
Rangers trail Premiership leaders Hearts by six points and Rohl retains full faith that his team can still end the season on a high.
"We did well as a group from last week to this week,” he added. “We will do this again, it's our job. We are strong enough to step up in the right moments and we will do.
"We can take a lot of good things from this game, except the result. I'm totally convinced we will be ready again next week.
"At the end of the game, there's always emotion. It's what makes this game so exciting.”
Celtic manager Michael O’Neill credited the resolve of his team and highlighted how they had to dip deep amid a busy schedule.
"It was our fourth game in 10 days and we were really out on our feet, but we defended magnificently,” he explained to Premier Sports. "Blocks, boys throwing their bodies on the line. I've got the utmost regard for the team.
"We had to defend for long periods in the game and we did that magnificently. It was a tough afternoon for us, but we came through it and we finally won the game.”