Source: FOOTYMAD
Who Will Make A Date With Celtic?
Rangers and Motherwell meet today to see who wuill meet Celtic in the Co-operative Cup final Rangers manager Walter Smith has won the Co-operative Insurance Cup five times and has no intention of taking the tournament lightly despite facing an already congested fixture list. Ahead of the Hampden meeting with Motherwell, Smith said: "We've got a decent record in the League Cup over the last few seasons and obviously we would like to keep that going. It's always a big game, it's always nice going to Hampden, it gives a lift to everyone. Although we've had another league game postponed, I think it adds to the semi-finals to have them at the weekend too.'' This is Smith's last season as manager at Ibrox so is keen to leave on a high. He went on: "If anything it increases your determination to do well but I have always been determined to do well. The League Cup games have always meant a great deal. When you start out at a club like Rangers, you have got to win them to stay in a job. People ask if you take the competition seriously, you only have to look at our record in recent years to see we want to do extremely well, and we want to do well on Sunday.'' Motherwell manager Stuart McCall knows all about the winning ethos at Rangers and is keen for his players to take centre-stage when he faces his former club. McCall will go head-to-head with former manager Smith and team-mate Ally McCoist at Hampden, just one month after taking over at Fir Park from Craig Brown. The former Scotland midfielder won 11 major honours with Rangers under Smith but he was quick to downplay his Ibrox links ahead of Motherwell's first trip to Hampden for five years. He said: "I'm looking forward to the semi-final. Obviously people make more of it being Rangers but it's not about me, it's about the players who have got us where we are and obviously the fans going to Hampden for the first time in a long time. I just want to make sure that the boys go out and make a good account of themselves. I don't want the young boys to freeze, I want them to really grasp the occasion and play the game and not be worried about what's going on about you or waving at your girlfriend in the stand. Just go and do your best, don't come off with any regrets. I believe we have players who, if they are at the top of their game, can cause Rangers problems, but we have all got to be at our peak." McCall boosted his squad on Friday night with the loan acquisition of Blackburn defender Gavin Gunning, who is eligible to play today. Keith Lasley could also return after missing two games with a hamstring injury. Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
