McCulloch banking on League Cup lift

Lee McCulloch believes Rangers can regain the feel good factor by clinching a place in the Scottish League Cup Final.

The midfielder was a surprise pick in last weekend’s goalless draw against Aberdeen – his first start since September – which left Rangers four points behind leaders and arch Glasgow rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

But McCulloch reckons Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final against top-flight strugglers Falkirk here at Hampden Park can provide some cheer for disgruntled supporters who have voiced their concern over the running of the club.

Rangers chairman Sir David Murray has already announced that one top player must be sold during the transfer window to balance the books, much to the annoyance of the Ibrox club’s fans.

However, McCulloch thinks the chance of winning the first trophy of the season will boost the morale of everyone connected with Rangers.

“There has been negativity about the place so I think getting into a Cup final would give something back to the fans who have been feeling frustrated,” McCulloch said.

“It’s not going to be easy but it would be great to reach a final for them as well as ourselves.

“There are things going on off the field but all we can do as players is go out and do our job on the pitch,” he added.

“Everything else that’s going on is nothing to do with us. Those matters are the responsibility of the hierarchy.

“It’s easy to point the finger and we have some people getting carried away. We’re all focused on doing well for the club which will hopefully help.”

Falkirk have struggled for form this season and sit second bottom of the Scottish Premier League, just two points above Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Rangers, who won the League Cup last season, defeated Falkirk 3-1 just two weeks ago in the league.

But Rangers boss Walter Smith says Falkirk manager John Hughes is the right man to get the Bairns back on track.

“John will use the experience he’s had at his club to pull him through and out of this Falkirk’s poor recent SPL form,” Smith said.

“How they play on Tuesday will depend on how John sees the game. He might look at a cup game slightly differently from the league.

“But I’m sure he’ll not be too far away from going with the type of set-up he deployed at Ibrox.

“They did it very well and it allows them to still play in a manner that has been their way of playing, in terms of trying to pass the ball.

“For me, Falkirk are a team who on their day can play with the best of them,” Smith insisted.

Celtic play Dundee United, third in the SPL, at Hampden in Wednesday’s second semi-final.