Rangers are through to the semi-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup after a 3-1 win at Dundee.
Scottish champions overcome First Division leaders
Rangers are through to the semi-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup after a 3-1 win at Dundee.
Steven Whittaker gave the Glasgow giants a 15th-minute lead before Leigh Griffiths drew the First Division leaders level with a 29th-minute free-kick for his 10th of the season.
But a Gary MacKenzie own goal put the Scottish champions back in front in the 57th minute and John Fleck sealed victory five minutes from time.
St Johnstone and St Mirren also made it through although Rangers, beaten by Celtic in last year's final, could face their Old Firm rivals in the semis as they host Hearts on Wednesday evening in the other quarter-final tie.
Walter Smith and his Rangers players were no doubt grateful for the opportunity to focus on football after several days of headlines sparked by the manager's claims that the bank was now controlling spending.
Selection surprises
Smith sprung a few selection surprises as although Danny Wilson was handed his competitive debut as expected, there was also a maiden outing for fellow youngster Jordan McMillan and a first appearance of the season for DaMarcus Beasley.
Kevin Thomson was a surprise inclusion in midfield after recovering from a shoulder injury while Neil Alexander was given the gloves ahead of Allan McGregor.
Kyle Lafferty and Nacho Novo started up front, with Kris Boyd on the bench despite his goal against Hibernian at the weekend.
Dundee made two changes with Gary Harkins recovering from an ankle injury to start along with Sean Higgins, with Colin McMenamin on the bench and Maros Klimpl absent from the squad.
The home side started brightly without causing any real problems and it was Rangers who had the first real chance when Novo was fouled just outside the box.
Thomson stepped up for the free-kick, which he rifled against the Dundee wall, before Fleck blasted the rebound well over the crossbar.
The teenager then turned provider with a corner which was met at the near post by Whittaker, who stabbed wide when it looked easier to score.
Whittaker was celebrating shortly after, though, as Fleck again delivered a teasing corner and this time the full-back headed beyond helpless Dundee goalkeeper Tony Bullock.
Dundee fans screamed for a penalty when Craig Forsyth went to ground after Alexander raced from his line to clear but the pleas were ignored by referee Dougie McDonald.
Equaliser
However, the Dark Blues were celebrating when Harkins was fouled just outside the area by McMillan and Griffiths stepped up to send a superb curling effort past the Rangers goalkeeper.
Alexander was then called into action to block a stinging shot from Griffiths at his near post.
Dundee looked more likely to find the back of the net again as they laid siege on the Rangers goal after the restart.
Harkins tried to pick out Griffiths in front of goal but he failed to connect with the cross amid claims of a shove from Rangers captain Sasa Papac.
Paul McHale then nodded over from the resulting free-kick before Eric Paton fired over and Griffiths drew a decent save from Alexander as the Taysiders cranked up the pressure.
But Dundee were left rueing those missed chances as Beasley sprayed a pass out to Whittaker on the right and his ball into the box caused all sorts of problems for MacKenzie, who inadvertently nodded into his own net.
Rangers could have put the tie beyond doubt when Thomson rolled a short free-kick to Novo only for the Spaniard to lash narrowly over the crossbar from 25 yards.
Fleck did seal the win, however, slotting past Bullock after Novo did all the hard work with a lovely run before unselfishly cutting the ball back.
