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Rangers will wreck dreams of an all-Saints final

Celtic's exciting deadline day business was guaranteed to have an instant impact on their fortunes - what we didn't expect, however, was that it would be a negative one.

Loan arrivals Robbie Keane and Diomansy Kamara both formed part of the first Bhoys side to lose to Kilmarnock in 32 meetings - and almost nine years - last night, meaning that Rangers maintain a ten-point lead and so can afford to pay closer attention to the cup competitions.

Tonight they face St Johnstone in the semi-final of the Co-operative Insurance Cup and the underdogs will take inspiration from struggling St Mirren's victory against Hearts yesterday to secure their first final appearance in 55 years.

There are other reasons for Derek McInnes' side to be upbeat. They won 2-0 at Ibrox the last time the teams met in the League Cup, in the 2006-07 quarter-finals, while Rangers - imperious of late in the league with nine wins and two draws from their last 11 - have been shakier in cup competitions.

As well as being humiliated in the Champions League, they needed a replay and then extra-time to see off Hamilton in the Scottish FA Cup and conceded against both Queen of the South and Dundee in this competition.

St Johnstone are in fine form, having won four of their last six, and have been fantastic in the League Cup, thumping Stenhousemuir and Arbroath 5-0 and 6-0 away in the earlier rounds, then knocking out Hibernian and Dundee United, who are third and fourth in the SPL.

Therefore, the odds of [4.4] on the Saints opening the scoring at Hampden Park looks generous, as does [1.93] on both teams finding the net. The [30.0] and [29.0] on them leading at half-time only to eventually lose or draw is also tempting.

We expect St Johnstone to put up a strong fight but fancy Rangers to get the job done in the end. The odds on them progressing are fairly unappetising at [1.14] so instead look for either Walter Smith's men to sneak it 2-1 at [9.8] or a 90-minute draw at [5.6].

Rangers v St Johnstone
Kick-off: 7.35pm
Live coverage on BBC1 Scotland (971 on Sky, 862 on Virgin)

Will there be another upset tonight? St Johnstone are [12.0] to win in 90 minutes...

Published: 3 Feb 2010 - Tags: Celtic , Derek McInnes , Hearts , St Mirren , Walter Smith