Callum Davidson claimed Queen’s Park’s monumental victory over Rangers felt every bit as significant as winning an historic Scottish Cup and League Cup double with St Johnstone four years ago.
Served with a touchline ban at Ibrox, the Spiders’ manager had a bird’s eye view of the win which sent shockwaves around the world of football.
The jubilant 48-year-old said the sense of satisfaction he had at Ibrox was the equal of anything he gleaned from Saints’ legendary cup season.
‘I think so, with where Queen’s Park are and what we had at our disposal,’ he said. ‘Nothing will ever compare to winning the two cups in the same season, but results like this go a long way to make you enjoy football and make you want to be in the business.
‘It’s tough when you hit the other side. I’ve been there as well. Some people say try and not get too high when you have good times but I disagree.
‘We’re absolutely delighted and I’ll just enjoy it. We’re a Championship team, with a very young group of players.’
Calum Ferrie screams with delight after saving Tavernier’s penalty in stoppage time
Rangers skipper Tavernier can’t believe he has blown his team’s big chance to level
Davidson had to watch game from stand and admitted he was hiding in his hood at penalty
On the brink of history when sub Sebastian Drozd netted with 20 minutes left, Davidson could barely watch as Rangers skipper Jamies Tavernier looked to level with a penalty in the 95th minute.
Watching Calum Ferrie save, only for VAR to check if he’d moved from his line, Davidson said: ‘My hood was over my face at that point and, when VAR called it back for the check on the infringement, I thought: “Oh no, not again”.’ We had a couple of poor decisions last week, hence why I was in the stands.
‘We worked really hard for this. We had a shape and system to frustrate Rangers. First half we could have done a little better with the ball but, in the second, the longer the game went on mistakes creeped in and we capitalised with a really good goal from Seb. Then it was about hanging on.’
No Queen’s player did more to create history than keeper Ferrie.
‘Outstanding,’ said Davidson said. ‘He’s been like that consistently. He’s now the captain. He had some really good saves, and the one at the end of the penalty.’
Hero Ferrie said he always believed that the side currently fifth in the Championship could eliminate the second best side in the country.
‘It’s 11 players against 11 players, nobody’s invincible,’ he said.
‘The shift the boys put in was unbelievable for 90 minutes, sorry, for 99 minutes.
It’s the big moment at Ibrox as substitute Drodz, far right, fires the ball past Liam Kelly
Matchwinner Drodz looks to be in a state of disbelief after his team’s historic win at Ibrox
Zak Rudden leads the celebrations after an incredible day in Scottish Cup for Queen’s Park
‘We had belief before the game but, when we got to half-time, we knew we could make it difficult.
‘Things like this don’t happen often, this is what cup football’s all about.
‘We’ll remember this for a long, long time, and so will the fans, who were brilliant today for us.’
Asked how he felt after saving the spot kick, and then realising a few seconds later that Queen’s had created history, Ferrie said: ‘Just sheer happiness and panic. The corner’s coming straight in. I’m thinking: “We’re at 98 minutes, surely that’s the end of the game”, and I managed to hang on.’
Queen’s remain the third most successful side in the history of the Scottish Cup albeit the last of their 10 triumphs was in 1893.
Six years after the club turned professional, Ferrie believes their stunning triumph at Ibrox can spark a new era of success.
‘You look at it in terms of the effect that that can have on people within Scotland, people within the community, seeing Queen’s Park performing well in big competitions, on TV, in front of big crowds,’ he added. ‘Games like this can bring more along. But those fans who came today were absolutely fantastic.’
