JOHN Hartson last night claimed the Rangers players had “pooed it” in the 4-0 drubbing by Celtic on Sunday and insisted they deserve the flak not under-fire manager Graeme Murty.
The Parkhead great admitted that he was stunned at how poor the Ibrox club were in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final defeat at Hampden.
The humiliating reverse has prompted many Rangers supporters to call for Murty, who has only been put in charge until the end of the season, to stand down.
But, speaking at his charity foundation’s annual golf day at Trump Turnberry, Hartson stressed the players deserve to be castigated for the inept display instead of the man in charge.
“It was embarrassing,” he said. “They showed no desire, they didn’t get close to them, they didn’t even close down. It was as if they were in awe. They were just sitting back. It could have been seven or eight, they were battered.
“When Rangers beat Celtic a couple of years ago when Ronny Deila was the manager, they beat them on penalties, but they never let Celtic settle for one second.
“From the first whistle they were right in their faces, up against them. They showed hard work and commitment. They showed everything that day and they got the result even if it was on penalties.
“There was none of that at the weekend. You’re sitting back and going: ‘Is this a testimonial?' Celtic were bumping it to each other, no-one laid a glove on Scott Brown.
“The performance was just shocking. The Rangers players need to go away and look at themselves because they play for a big club like Rangers. The fans they want better than that and Graeme Murty wants better than that."
Hartson added: “You can point to decision, the substitutions bringing in a centre-half on and having rows, but players have to go and play.
“I knew when the Old Firm games were and I knew my role and responsibility and what it meant to the fans, it is everything to them.
“When you pull that blue shirt on for Rangers you are playing for the badge, you are playing for the fans, you are playing for your family.
“They showed nothing and they’ve got a lot to answer for. Never mind Murty, it’s easy to point the blame at Graeme Murty and say he’s inexperienced and he picked the wrong team, but that’s nonsense.
“Don’t point the blame at Graeme Murty, it’s the players. I wouldn’t go as far to say they are not good enough, but I would say they just pooed it.
“They went out there and couldn’t deal with the crowd, couldn’t deal with the pressure, not psychologically tough enough, no character.”
Hartson was amazed that senior players like Russell Martin and James Tavernier and Rangers fans like Greg Docherty, Graham Dorrans, Andy Halliday and Jamie Murphy showed no fighting spirit.
“They have to look at themselves,” he said. “It’s like the former team I used to play in, senior players, players like Lenny (Neil Lennon) would let you know in no uncertain terms if you weren’t doing well.
“And you haven’t got to be playing well to let people know. Neil had the ability. But when he was having a nightmare himself, which wasn’t very often, he would still point the finger. That’s a good captain.
“He was given that responsibility by the manager – to go and sort things out. If I wasn’t getting on the ball, or I was getting sloppy, then Lenny would be barking in my ear. And that’s what senior players do.
“There were a few out there for Rangers – but it was a mismatch at the weekend, it really was. Rangers fans have Tweeted me to say their team was dire – no fight, no desire."
John Hartson was speaking at the John Hartson Foundation annual golf day at Trump Turnberry. This event was for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. The Hartson Foundation aims to raise £1 million by 2020.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here