What now for Rangers and Clement after cup shock?
In normal times, an embarrassing cup defeat at home to lower level opposition in a season when the league has long since become a lost cause would signal the end for a Rangers manager.
In normal times, the man in the Ibrox hotseat would not survive defeat in Govan to Queen's Park. Not when it means the only realistic chance of domestic silverware has gone up in smoke.
So why is Philippe Clement still in a job?
Because these are not normal times for Rangers.
Having already sacked two managers in as many years before the Belgian was appointed, those running the club want stability.
The extending of Clement's contract earlier in the season seemed somewhat premature. It was done, however, with a purpose. Amid a raft of departures at senior level - James Bisgrove, Stewart Robertson and John Bennett to name but a few - continuity and consistency was in short supply.
New chief executive Patrick Stewart came in not so much to steady to the ship but to completely re-fit it and make it properly seaworthy.
Good showings against Tottenham in the Europa League and Celtic in the League Cup final came in the week before Stewart took up his post but league points were lost on the road to St Mirren, Motherwell, Hibs and Dundee to undo the manager's first taste of Old Firm victory on 2 January.
So, does the CEO cast Clement adrift or throw him another lifeline?
The case for Clement
There have been clear signs of progress under Clement since he arrived at Rangers in October 2023.
Michael Beale had been sacked a year after Giovanni van Bronckhorst suffered the same fate.
Part of Rangers' problem lies therein: if the bar for success is not met by making it to a European final, winning the Scottish Cup and qualifying for the Champions League, heaven help the next guy. Or the guy after him.
The early signs for Clement were promising. A trophy. The League Cup was followed by passage to the last 16 in the Europa League.
Then came a long unbeaten run that even gave us a title race for a while. Until the buffers were hit in Dingwall and Dundee. A narrow Scottish Cup final defeat by Celtic stung badly but it seemed Rangers were getting closer.
The manager was then asked to continue that improvement while trimming the wage bill and recruiting younger players. Not quite the vision he was sold when he took over but there seemed to be an understanding at board level that he would get time, given the state of club finances.
Hence the new contract with the season barely started and the ink not long dry on the original. The signal was 'this is our man, in Philippe we trust'.
The backdrop was far from ideal – starting this term at Hampden meant the national stadium was where the Champions League dream died. But Europe has been the one area in which he and his team have excelled.
Having faced Manchester United, Spurs and Lyon, Rangers proved they were among the best eight teams in the Europa League. They are one winnable tie away from a European quarter-final.
The case against
Rangers have scored six goals in the past two meetings with runaway Premiership leaders Celtic but that's just about where the domestic highlights reel stops for this season.
Clement had a chance to defend the League Cup and couldn't. Celtic got the job done in a penalty shootout.
It's hard to sustain a credible argument about improvement when you can barely see your title rivals in the distance. A double-digit gap before the old year was out. A 13-point gap in early February. The team routinely failing to turn up unless the game was at Ibrox.
And then we come to the latest calamity. Even a manager thriving at Ibrox would be under intense pressure after a home Scottish Cup humbling by second-tier opposition. Has Clement run out of road?
It would send a strong message from above were that to be the final straw. It would show disgruntled supporters that there are certain standards Rangers cannot drop below.
The level of fan ire may yet tip the scales should Stewart remain undecided. Managers have certainly been sacked for less. Just ask van Bronckhorst and Beale.
Stick or twist?
Having recently given Clement the benefit of the doubt, it seems the Rangers hierarchy are going to stay the course. For the moment.
They may well take a different view in the summer but, for now, they are likely to let the manager see out his latest European adventure.
Would a Europa League quarter-final or better be good enough in isolation?
There are two more league meetings with arch-rivals Celtic to come. Rangers, you fancy, would need to win at least one for the ground under Clement not to get any shakier.
Indeed, his next three Premiership away days are at Rugby Park, Tynecastle and Celtic Park. Should further points be dropped in big enough numbers then things might just get too toxic for the board to stomach.
The waters are incredibly choppy. The ship is close to being holed below the water-line. The question for those in charge is simple. Will getting rid of another captain get them any closer to dry land?
