Saturday 8 November 2014 15:53, UK
Rangers manager Ally McCoist admits he is desperate to avoid Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals, should Ronny Deila's side win the Glasgow derby with Partick on Wednesday.
McCoist reached the last four of the competition for the first time as a manger following a dramatic 1-0 victory over St Johnstone at sparsely-filled Ibrox.
Lewis Macleod scored the decisive goal after 86 minutes, as Rangers caused an upset in the competition for a second time this season, having dispatched Inverness Caley by the same scoreline in the last round.
The three remaining ties take place on Wednesday, and asked who he wanted to be paired with in Saturday's draw, McCoist said: "When you get to the semis, you can't really pick and choose.
"We all know who the favourites will be to pick up the domestic trophies, so in that respect I would take anybody but Celtic.
"It doesn't take rocket science to work it out it would maybe - and it doesn't guarantee you - a better chance of reaching the final.
"If we did get Celtic it would be a very, very tough game and it would be stating the obvious to say we would be the underdogs. But the underdogs can sometimes win."
Meanwhile, McCoist claims he is unsure what his relationship will be with former Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias and Sports Direct head of brands Barry Leach, both of whom watched the match from the directors box.
The duo have arrived at the Championship club as consultants following the latest shuffle in the boardroom at Ibrox.
"I haven't met Derek yet," he said. "I've obviously been preparing totally for the game since Saturday. But I look forward to doing so.
"I don't know (if I will have to defer to him). I haven't been told anything like that. I don't have any doubt that the time will come (when that will be explained).
"I don't know (who I am to report to) at the moment. Yesterday I spoke to the chairman and Sandy Easdale and the way I see it I will have discussions with anybody, be it board members or shareholders, who wants to talk."
Saints boss Tommy Wright was disappointed with his team’s display as they laboured throughout the match.
"We missed an opportunity to win a game," he said. "A half-empty stadium doesn't really come into it. I thought we played particularly well and created opportunities throughout the game.
"We defended pretty well up until Macleod got his goal. I'm disappointed for them because we did create a few opportunities and could have got something out of the game.
"Frazer Wright had a header in the first half and Michael O'Halloran and Brian Graham forced good saves from Steve Simonsen in the second half. It is disappointing to be knocked out."
