Ramsdens Cup holders Queen of the South bowed out of this year`s tournament with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Rangers at Palmerston Park.

The final result was a harsh one for the Doonhamers as they competed manfully with the Glasgow giants for much of the contest until captain Chris Higgins saw a second yellow card after 75 minutes.

Rangers took an early lead through centre-back Bilel Mohsni`s close range finish after 6 minutes but were pushed back for much of the first period as Queens looked for an equaliser.  After spurning a number of chances the match slipped away from the home side as Chris Higgins was given his marching orders and straight from the resultant free-kick the man he was due to mark, Jon Daly, headed in to double Ibrox-side`s lead.  Former Queens favourite Nicky Clark came on for Rangers with 10 minutes remaining and saw his new team wrap up the victory as Lee McCulloch powered in a header from a Robbie Crawford corner.

Queens manager Jim McIntyre praised his players despite the defeat: “I`ve got nothing but pride for the players, I thought we took the game to Rangers in the first half and created good goalscoring opportunities.  When you play against the Old Firm you`ve got to take them.

“They scored with their first one and were ruthless with it and we just didn`t have that ruthless side about us tonight.

“At 1-0 we were still well in the game and I wanted to really have a go and I felt we did that.  I felt we had good pace in our team and the front five options were all trying to break their neck to get into the box and to play with a high tempo.  That was really pleasing side of it because remember they`re a good side, they`ve got umpteen internationals in their team and have started the season really well scoring a lot of goals.

“After the sending of it`s a case of damage limitation.”

Queens` best opportunity came in the first half as Derek Lyle had a sight of an open goal but saw his effort blocked by a sprawling Mohsni after Iain Russell had dispossessed Rangers `keeper Cammy Bell. 

“On another day he tucks it away but he did say that he thought it hit the defender`s hand.  Michael Paton had a good chance right in the first five minutes and there were other opportunities so I`m pleased with the way we played going forward but disappointed with the goals we lost and obviously the sending off is a major blow but I think Rangers know they`ve been in a game tonight.”