DUNFERMLINE defender Ross Graham reckons Rangers benefitted from a packed-out Ibrox on Friday night as the Pars slipped to a chastening 5-0 defeat in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup.

Peter Grant’s side won three of their four group stage encounters, scoring 13 goals along the way, before their cup run was brought to an abrupt halt in emphatic style by the Premiership champions.

Graham, 20, is on loan at East End Park this term from Dundee United and sampled last season’s unusual atmosphere in Govan when he was shipped out on loan to Cove Rangers and the League One outfit were drawn against Steven Gerrard’s side in the early stages of the Scottish Cup.

And now that supporters are back to stadia in their droves, Graham believes that the effect of the twelfth man is even more pronounced after 18 months of soulless, spectator-less games.

“Coming to Ibrox is always a tough one,” he said. “They are the champions so we knew how difficult it would be. You have to look to rise to that challenge.

“Despite the defeats I have enjoyed the experience of playing here. Last season with Cove Rangers there were no fans and then this time it was quite full and the experience was totally different, but unfortunately it was the same outcome.

“So it is bittersweet to lose the game and it’s not how we wanted the game to go.

“You could sense the difference between the game last year and this with the fans being in. They make such a difference and you feel under more pressure and you don’t get as much time on the ball as the fans are roaring them on to close you down.

“Did I not want to be back at Ibrox any time soon? Not at all, these are the places you want to play your football. You want to go to Ibrox and Celtic Park and stadiums like that.

“I’m obviously on loan from Dundee United and coming up against Rangers is something I want to do more regularly throughout my career.

“It’s all about playing against the top teams and trying to learn from the experience.”