Callum Davidson, manager of Queen’s Park, pulled his jacket hood over his face, rocked back in his chair in the Ibrox press box, and tugged the toggles in agony. He had just seen the big screen at Ibrox flutter with a fresh message.
The authorities were looking at whether Calum Ferrie, his heroic custodian, had veered off course in saving James Tavernier’s 97th-minute penalty. Moments later, he could celebrate following his team’s one of the most dramatic shocks in Scottish Cup history.
Davidson experienced every single feeling from the moment he woke up at 01:30 in a cold sweat at having only four fit defenders to the referee blowing the full-time whistle after around eight minutes of stoppage-time bedlam.Because of a touchline ban, he also had to complete it all away from the dugout.
While seated a few seats along from the BBC commentary team, he was issuing feverish instructions on his phone at half-time, at one point jumping up and waving violently to his staff.
Given all those challenges standing in Queen’s Park’s path, the chances could not have been more stacked against her.
“I couldn’t believe it at the end to be honest,” Davidson remarked to BBC Scotland.
“Our captain [Ferrie] got us out of hot mess. Actually, it’s a reasonable penalty; it’s just a fantastic save. Calum gave a really excellent performance.
Davidson’s suffering during the drama was the ideal mirror of his squad, who drained all they have but came out still standing and victorious.
