Hearts manager Craig Levein lambasted his players for a timid first-half display that sealed their fate in the CIS Insurance Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers.

Levein's side were only one goal down at the interval, but Levein acknowledged that the gap should have been greater.

He criticised his players for paying the league leaders too much respect, and though he was happier with the second-half performance, he could not hide his anger at the lack of fight in the first 45 minutes.

"In the first half we played like a team who didn't quite believe they were good enough to win the game - we lacked confidence and that cost us," said the Hearts boss.

"We were pushed onto the back foot very early on. We had a few young players not used to games like this and it was a case of stage fright.

"Sometimes when that happens, players think the best thing is to sit back, not create many chances and try to frustrate Rangers but that was a subconscious thing and wasn't planned.

"It took the half-time break to instil belief and encourage them to create more chances.

"We were in a cup semi-final, with the chance to go through to a final, and we didn't want us to go out having played 90 minutes of dross.

"But all credit to them for being a bit more positive in the second half and for giving our fans something to sing about."

Ronald de Boer's goal made the difference

Rangers manager Alex McLeish admitted he would have liked to have seen a second goal go in to kill the game, but congratulated his players on reaching another final.

"In the first half we really dominated but we were still only a goal up," he said.

"I knew that Hearts had to show some kind of reaction in the second half.

"They had a wee bit more pressure and the resilience of the defence was good when you consider the presence of the Hearts team.

"At 1-0 it is never done. I suppose you can get a wee bit agitated but I tried to get the message on at them to keep their composure as Hearts had started to pass the ball a bit.

"They unnerved us a wee bit so it was important we kept our composure."