Foster insists Rangers must perform

09 January 2011 15:00

Defender Richard Foster insists Rangers cannot afford to let their standards slip against in-form Kilmarnock in Monday's Active Nation Scottish Cup clash.

The Scottish champions head into the fourth-round tie hoping for a positive reaction to last week's Old Firm derby defeat to Celtic. Kilmarnock have been in fine shape recently, with their run of results taking them to fourth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, despite being written off as relegation fodder at the start of the season.

"Kilmarnock are playing Rangers so I don't think Kilmarnock are ever going to be favourites for the game. It will be a very difficult game for us and we will have to play as well as we can to win the game. They are probably the in-form team in Scotland just now," said Foster.

"They've got a lot of quality players and they pass the ball really well and they are a very dangerous team on the break. We will need to be at our best to beat them on Monday.

"You know when you go into cup competitions, you are going to have to beat everyone. You get that in your head and the draw takes care of itself.

"Kilmarnock are probably the in-form team in Scotland just now and it's a very tough draw for us but it's one we are confident we can win."

Foster has identified Conor Sammon as Kilmarnock's main threat, with the striker heading into the tie with 15 goals already this season.

He said: "They have a lot of good players but Conor Sammon is in a purple patch at the moment, he is a big, strong boy, he is quick and he can actually score goals as well. It will be a very difficult game."

Source: PA