Rangers progressed to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals as they delivered an emphatic and dominant win over Celtic at Ibrox.
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Image source, SNSRangers manager Derek McInnes: "It was the performance and result we were all looking for. The game demanded a big performance and I thought we delivered on that. It's a good reference point for my players. They're a young squad and they saw how much that result means to the supporters.
"We'll enjoy today but the challenge at this club is to go and do it all again next week. We had to play well because Celtic have the quality that can change the game in a heartbeat.
"In the main we deserved the win and scored at the right times, something we've not been doing a lot of.
"It doesn't guarantee anything, we've got to try and do it all again, and probably a bit more, next week. I know Dan Neil will be highlighted for his goals and rightly so but I thought the rest of the midfield were terrific.
"I expected a big performance from us, I hoped we would win the game if we got that. It's seven wins out of eight, five wins in a row, it doesn't feel like that sometimes.
"It's up to us to keep reinforcing the message that when you play at Rangers there's another big game round the corner, and that's what we've got next Sunday.
"I love the togetherness, I need to have this team who cares for each other, has love for each other. When things aren't going well you sometimes see the true strength. We've had some soul searching and tough times the past few weeks.
"It gives so much encouragement to the club, fans, the board as to what we're capable of."
Image source, SNSJohn Souttar's proposed transfer from Rangers to Aris Thessaloniki has hit a late stumbling block, with sources in Greece suggesting the Scotland defender is waiting for an Ibrox pay-off. (Scottish Sun, external)
Lee McCulloch is in the frame to take over the Rangers technical director role vacated by Dan Purdy, with the former Ibrox midfielder currently talent acquisition manager at Brighton. (Scottish Sun, external)
Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
Image source, SNSCeltic have won the past six League Cup meetings between the clubs since losing the final to Rangers in 2011.
Celtic's last League Cup win at Ibrox was in the groups in 1973. They also beat Rangers in the semis that season - but have never won a League Cup knockout tie in Govan.
Celtic have only won four of their previous 14 games against Rangersat Ibrox.
Rangers have only failed to get to the semis once in the past decade.
Celtic haven't lost at the quarter-final stage since 2009, when Hearts beat them 1-0 at Celtic Park thanks to a Michael Stewart penalty - current coach Stephen McManus was sent off late in the tie.
Martin O'Neill's record at Ibrox: Played 11, Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 4.
Derek McInnes' record against Celtic: Played 61, Won 10, Drawn 4, Lost 47.
Image source, SNSMidweek matchwinner Bojan Miovski has leapt up the Rangers pecking order - and manager Derek McInnes praised the striker as a "godsend".
Miovski, who looked to be heading out of Ibrox during the transfer window, has only featured as a late substitute this season.
But long-term injuries to Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti have provided a chance to rejuvenate his Ibrox career, with Miokvski the hero against St Mirren on Wednesday with a delicate last-gasp winner.
He could now be thrust in from the start in Sunday's Old Firm derby where McInnes is aiming to steer Rangers into the League Cup semis.
"He's feeling good about himself, bounced into the club this morning but he's always a positive boy anyway," McInnes said of the former Aberdeen forward.
"He's good as gold since we've been in. And when we did come into the club I thought we were fortunate to have someone that has prowess, has experience, has know-how of Scottish football, has goals per minute and is really strong in the Scottish Premiership.
"For a long period through that transfer window he probably thought he would have to go elsewhere to get regular football.
"But such is the way things change in football, with Youssef and Lawrence's long-term injury then having Bojan in the building is a godsend for me and something he should take a lot of encouragement from now between now and the end of the season.
"Hopefully he can go and have a big impact for us."
Image source, SNSDan Purdy (middle, second left) arrived at Ibrox alongside Kevin Thelwell
Rangers say Dan Purdy is to step down from his position as technical director after just 15 months at Ibrox.
Purdy, who was previously head of scouting with Everton, had arrived as a replacement for Nils Koppen, who is now West Ham's director of recruitment.
Following media reports of his imminent departure, Rangers confirmed in a website statement: "Dan will continue to work with the club's ownership group, supporting the transition and other football projects.
"The board would like to thank Dan for his commitment and contribution during his time at Rangers and wishes him every success for the future."
Purdy's arrival came on the back of Kevin Thelwell being named as sporting director, but the latter and chief executive Patrick Stewart left in November amid fan criticism of the club's transfer dealings and the hiring of Russell Martin as head coach.
Now Purdy's exit comes a week after Rangers completed a record spend in the summer transfer window, during which 14 players were recruited following the arrival of Derek McInnes as manager.
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSRangers defender Olwethu Makhanya has revealed his parents were crucial in pushing him to continue his dream of playing football after he began to doubt he would make the grade.
The South Africa international, who has looked comfortable in Derek McInnes' defence since signing from Philadelphia Union in the summer, admits a nudge in the right direction helped salvage his career.
Makhanya, 22, left home to move to Johannesburg at 16 in a bid to find a club, eventually signing with Stellenbosch after his mother's crucial intervention.
"I think my parents, especially my mum, played a really big role in me becoming a professional footballer," he said.
"I went away from home for the first time, tried, but things were not going well. I called my mum this one day. I told her 'I just want to come back, maybe focus on education because maybe football is not for me.'
"The thing that she told me over the phone was that 'you left here telling me that you're going to go play football, so I want you to do that.' I just had to keep on going until things came true for me."
Makhanya has played a significant role in Rangers' four-game league winning run, with just one goal conceded, before hosting Celtic in their League Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
"I think it [the late midweek win over St Mirren] does highlight the fact that maybe the group is strong mentally," he explained.
"That shows a lot of mentality and character from the boys.
"It's going to be very important to stay together. I think it shows a lot of togetherness and it's something that we've been working on off the field."
The centre-half conceded he hasn't played in a contest of the magnitude of the Old Firm derby before.
"I think everyone understands what this fixture means to the club, to the fans and everyone," he said. "I'm really excited and looking forward to it.
"I just know that it's going to be a very passionate game. I'm honestly expecting a really, really crazy game from the fans.
"We just have to try and do our job and deliver because we know the fans are going to be behind us. We're going to use them as an encouragement and also understand that we're also doing it for them. They're going to be very helpful for us."
Image source, SNSHow big a factor will the Ibrox crowd be in Sunday's Old Firm showdown?
With no away fans in attendance, Rangers will be backed by 50,000 supporters in the League Cup last-eight tie against Celtic.
But that could turn out to be a help or a hindrance.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, Ewan Murray - The Guardian's Scottish football correspondent - explains: "The 50,000 Rangers fans element is interesting because Ibrox for a home player can be a difficult place to play when things are not going for you.
"And if Rangers don't start this game well with only their own fans there, it will become tricky. There's no doubt about that. If Celtic score the first goal, it becomes very, very difficult for the Rangers players.
"The the flip side of that, of course, is obvious. If Rangers start well and get the opening goal with all those fans behind them they will feel they're they're in a good place.
"I think this game will come down to the strikers. Celtic have more firepower, but going by Martin O'Neill's comments on Wednesday night, he's a bit exasperated with the way they're playing in front of goal."
Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan, meanwhile, believes "anything can happen" in the sides' first meeting of the season.
"I think Rangers will look at Celtic the other night and see, as much as they did create chances, St Johnstone were able to play through them quite comfortably," said Allan.
"And Celtic will look at that the Rangers game and see St Mirren at times really caused them problems, were dragging Emmanuel Fernandez all over the place at times.
"It's a really hard one for me to pick a winner based on what I've seen over the last week. It could go either way, but ultimately it could come down to which player can produce a big moment."
Image source, SNSGraeme Souness has urged Rangers to "put down a marker" with victory over Celtic in Sunday's League Cup quarter-final.
Last term, each side took five points from their league encounters but Celtic got the better of Rangers in both cup competitions.
"This is an opportunity for Rangers to put whatever's happened behind them," said Souness.
"I know they're on a decent run now, put it behind them and give encouragement to their supporters.
"Beating Celtic, there's no better game to give them that confidence going forward than to make supporters have that belief going forward.
"The first one is always super important, put a marker down. This is in the cup, so it's a big game for both teams."
The League Cup was Souness' first trophy as Rangers player-manager, beating Celtic 2-1 in the 1986 final. He went on to win the trophy on three more occasions as well as overseeing three league title wins before joining Liverpool.
"Being second here equates to criticism and you could be playing the best football," he said.
"Like any supporter, it's not rocket science, what I want to see, I want to see them play attractive football, front foot football, defend well and score goals.
"I can remember my first Old Firm game. I came here, serious player, played at the highest level, played in big games, big derby games, but this is a unique game. You have to work it out pretty quickly early on. But if you're playing in the games, don't play the occasion."
Image source, SNSScotland defender John Souttar, 29, is close to joining Aris Thessaloniki from Rangers. (Daily Record - subscription required, external)
Image source, SNSDerek McInnes has urged Rangers to "bring the crowd with us" in Sunday's League Cup quarter-final showdown with Celtic at Ibrox.
Anxiety was again evident among the home support as Rangers struggled in the second half against St Mirren on Wednesday night before Bojan Miovski's stoppage-time strike secured a fourth straight win.
The hosts will be backed by a 50,000-strong home support on Sunday, with no Celtic fans allowed amid a ticket allocation row between the two clubs.
McInnes, who is preparing for his first Old Firm derby as a manager, said: "I think we've got to bring the crowd with us.
"You're not going to play Celtic and dominate the game for 90 minutes. We'll have spells, they'll have spells, it's just the way it is.
"I think it's important that we tap into having that 50,000 behind us and be behind the players, support them, have their backs, not be on their backs and really make it as tough for Celtic as possible.
"We've got our part to play in that and I felt that if we can capitalise on good play and good opportunities, which we didn't do last night and we didn't do against Motherwell (also won 1-0) obviously, if we can get ourselves in front, give the crowd something to get behind, then I think the strength of our club can be shown.
"I think if the 50,000 can be utilised and we can have the strength of performance in the team that will help the team, it will be difficult to stop.
"There's been a lot of frustration over a period of time at the club and it's up to us to try and show that we're going to deliver something a bit different."
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSRangers manager Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Celtic on Sunday at Ibrox.
Here are the key points:
McInnes is excited to experience the Old Firm derby as a manager for the first time, saying: "I've always wanted to do this job and I've always wanted to be involved in this fixture... it has all the makings of a brilliant cup tie."
He believes the full capacity home crowd will be key. "We've got to bring the crowd with us," he says. "We'll have spells, they'll [Celtic] have spells. It's important that we tap into having 50,000 behind us and really make it as tough as possible for Celtic."
The Ibrox boss emphasised the importance of striking the first blow against a good Celtic team to deliver the chance to "be relevant domestically again in terms of winning trophies".
McInnes stressed the need for discipline alongside being competitive and aggressive, adding a "bit of fire and ice at the right times can help matters".
On the potential impact of winning, he was keen to point out Rangers "are always getting judged and there's always pressure games" but it remains "really early on in the season to be making rash judgments on any team".
McInnes believes Rangers are "slowly making progress" after four league victories in a row and are capable of winning the game, but Celtic "can cause us problems".
The past three cup meetings between the clubs have gone beyond 90 minutes and McInnes is keen to draw from the positives of recent weeks, with a need to "be ruthless and more instinctive" in attack.
He conceded a number of attacking players are young with limited experience of such an intense fixture, adding: "Sometimes these boys have just got to live it and thrive on it," with the feelgood factor a win may bring potentially massive.
McInnes feels fortunate to have striker Bojan Miovski, who scored the late winner against St Mirren on Wednesday, at his disposal in an injury-hit frontline and described him as a "godsend".
Scotland defender John Souttar - who is reportedly set to join Greek side Aris Thessaloniki - looks likely to depart within the coming days.
McInnes adds on Souttar: "I spoke to John this morning, he trained. There's a bit of interest in him from one or two clubs, one club maybe a bit further down the line than the other. Maybe something will happen over the next two or three days."
The Rangers boss pointed to a developing bond between the players in his squad that was evident after the late winner against St Mirren, adding it "feels like a dressing room that I recognise and that I want my team to be".
Watch Rangers grab last-gasp win over St Mirren
We asked for your views after substitute Bojan Miovski's injury-time chip earned Rangers a 1-0 home win over St Mirren.
Here's what some of you said:
David: Good first-half performance, still not clinical though. Wish the manager would pick a system and core players and stick with them, too much chopping and changing makes it hard for the team to gel. Plus not one good team play 4-4-2 any more.
Robert: Another win, another clean sheet, another three points while trying to integrate new players. All positives. The goals will come and that will knock the stuffing out of any opposition. Keep going.
Sally: Miovski got the goal and the plaudits, but the hard work, endeavour and sheer persistence of Ryan Naderi gave Gers the win. Celtic will be a major obstacle on Sunday! Just wish we had a shoot on sight mentality at set-pieces.
Sandy: Get out of jail card for Rangers. St Mirren deserved a draw. I have grave concerns for Rangers, a team top heavy in average to below average players. Not clinical enough in front of goal.
Brian: How long do we have to wait to see any improvements? I'm sorry but, that was painful to watch. You'd think we just won the league. Miovski had every right to jump about after scoring but for the other players' big celebrations, to an almost empty stadium, I think it's shocking and embarrassing for the club. That was St Mirren, what happens on Sunday when Celtic visit? As much as it pains me to say it, I think it'll be the demise of McInnes.
Derek: Another disappointing performance. Three points is three points. Why oh why does Miovski not get a run is this team? He has never been given a chance, when he does get a run he'll score goals, he saved more pressure on McInnes today. The same can be said about Findlay Curtis. I hope they both start on Sunday.
Highlights: Rangers 1-0 St Mirren
Watch the best of the action from Rangers' 1-0 win over St Mirren as Bijon Miovski nets the decisive strike in added time. (Available to UK users only)
Image source, SNSJapanese winger Daisuke Yokota joined Rangers from Hannover this summer
Japanese winger Daisuke Yokota is set to undergo groin surgery and faces up to three months out, Rangers manager Derek McInnes has confirmed.
The 26-year-old was a second-half substitute in Saturday's win over Motherwell and has played nine times since signing from Hannover earlier this summer.
Yokota's absence adds McInnes' injury troubles in forward areas following injuries to Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti.
Captain Shankland is with Yokota in London and will also have surgery on Thursday after suffering a hamstring tear that could keep the striker out for four months.
McInnes says the decision to operate on the Scotland forward minimises the risk of a recurrence but his recovery could take an extra three or four weeks.
"Unfortunately [Shankland's] not alone in London," the Rangers boss said after the late victory over St Mirren.
"Daisuke Yokota is getting a groin operation as well, which has been quite unusual in the sense that once we got him scanned on Monday it showed he had torn the muscle off the tendon in his groin.
"He'll be out a significant time as well, probably in the region of two to three months."
