McInnes Urges Rangers Fans to Drive Team On in Celtic Cup Clash
Rangers will have no Celtic supporters inside Ibrox when Derek McInnes takes charge of his first Old Firm derby on Sunday, with a Premier Sports Cup semi-final place on the line.
McInnes calls for Ibrox unity
The quarter-final is McInnes’ biggest test since taking over at Rangers, and he has urged the home support to stay behind his players when Celtic have periods of control.
- Roughly 50,000 Rangers fans are expected at Ibrox.
- Celtic fans will be absent following an SPFL decision linked to previous crowd disorder.
- McInnes wants Rangers to use the one-sided backing to make the occasion difficult for their rivals.
“We have to take the crowd with us,” McInnes said. “You are not going to dominate Celtic for 90 minutes. Having 50,000 behind us, supporting the players and sticking with them, can make it really tough for Celtic.”
Rangers seek response after Europe blow
Rangers enter the tie in improved domestic shape after a difficult start to the campaign. They opened their Premiership season with a draw away to Dundee United and a defeat against Hibernian, but have since put together four straight league wins.
European disappointment remains fresh, however. Rangers were knocked out of Conference League qualifying by Czech side Jablonec after a penalty shoot-out, increasing the importance of reaching the domestic cup’s last four.
- Rangers have reached the League Cup semi-finals in nine of the past 10 seasons.
- Celtic have never won a League Cup knockout match at Ibrox.
- Their most recent League Cup victory at Govan came during the competition’s group stage in 1973.
What happens next
The winners will move on to Hampden Park, with Rangers looking to halt Celtic’s recent strength in this competition and turn their domestic revival into a major early-season result.
McInnes has won 10 of his 61 managerial meetings with Celtic, but Sunday offers the Rangers boss a chance to set an immediate benchmark in the Ibrox dugout. Victory would put the Light Blues in the semi-finals and provide a swift answer to the frustration of their European exit.
