12/04/2014 Sportscene

Good evening. It had been dubbed by some as the game of the season, the

William Hill Scottish Cup semifinal between Rangers and Dundee United.

Could it possibly live up to the hype? United, Scottish Cup winners

in 2010. As for Rangers, in recent times they'd been virtually cursed

in cup competition. I write fitted free kick. It is a goal. The Rangers

fans streamed disconsolately from the stadium. Caley Thistle on course

for the semifinal. Game, set and match. Rangers' day goes from bad to

worse. Rangers have been beaten by Forfar athletic. -- Forfar Athletic.

There was always going to be an edge to this match this lunchtime. We'll

get the views of Pat Nevin and Billy Dodds a little later. But straight

to the action. A sizzling atmosphere at Ibrox. Your match commentator,

Rob McLean. at Ibrox.

There has been plenty of debate about the venue for the semifinal

and the allocation of tickets. Now it is time for the match itself. It

has turned out to be a home game for league one champions Rangers. How

will that advantage way against the different footballer level at which

these two or operating? Dundee United are top six Premiership team.

We are about to find out. Rangers can tout Cammy Bell and Lee Wallace

because of injury. Steve Simonsen please only his second goal --

second game in goal for Rangers. The teenage talents of John Souttar and

Ryan Gauld are recalled to the Dundee United team.

The referee is Bobby Madden. Rangers will have to move up a couple of

years after their performance last weekend. They lost to Raith Rovers

in the Ramsdens Cup final. Were they to deliver that sort of performance

today, it may well be no contest against Dundee United, who are still

in with the chance of European qualification.

Problems for Dundee United. Fraser Aird's cross was deflected behind

against Paul Paton. John Souttar is switched off. Sometimes he has the

tendency to overplay the ball. The header from Lee McCulloch. It is

hooked off the line by John Rankin. Bilel Mohsni tried to apply the

finishing touch. Just a suggestion of handball against Andy Robertson.

Fraser Aird with a good strike. The 19-year-old target just wide. --

tugged it just wide. The opportunity opened up, and it was worth a go.

The Dundee United chairman is a man of the people. Steven Thompson,

among the 11,000 United fans. Dean Shiels, and he has dragged the

shot wide of target. It is the best chance of the match so far. Dean

Shiels knows that he should have scored. He was onside. That was well

off target. That was a great challenge from

parole to. It is a free kick against Bilel Mohsni. -- from Peralta. He

was late. This could be dangerous. Stuart

Armstrong gives Dundee United the lead. It was not properly dealt with

by Rangers and they are punished. It is the 23rd minute of the match. The

header from Gavin Gunning. It caught Rangers out badly. It is hooked in

by Armstrong. It is his 10th goal of the season. It clipped to the base

of the post -- clipped the base of the post on the way in. Dundee

United are in front at Ibrox. Nadir Ciftci. It was a great effort. A

diving stave -- save by Simonsen. That is a really important save for

Rangers. Arnold Peralta. His passes deflected

behind, and Rangers have a corner. In from Fraser Aird. That is a bad

challenge by Paul Paton. It was not really a challenge she had to make.

He has conceded a free kick. There appear to be no immediate danger to

Dundee United. Ian Black swings it in. Radoslaw

Cierzniak flats at it. -- flaps at it. That was uncertain from the

United keeper. Nicky Law, looking to make something

happen for Rangers. It has come off the crossbar. Radoslaw Cierzniak was

totally caught by surprise. That was a great challenge from Gavin

Gunning. He blocked the effort on goal. Then the free kick was given

against Nadir Ciftci, for his challenge on Lee McCulloch. Radoslaw

Cierzniak was totally deceived by the ball into the box by Nicky Law.

Fraser Aird, onside. What a mess by Jon Daly. -- a miss. That is against

his own -- his old theme. Jon Daly seemed really surprised that the

chance came his way. He blazed it over the top. Two big misses in the

first half for Ally McCoist's team, Dean Shiels and Jon Daly.

Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, and Dundee United have a 2-0 lead in the

Scottish Cup semifinal. Again, it is a mistake at the back from Rangers.

It seemed to take an eternity to hit the back of the net. Away by Foster,

Ryan Gauld involved. The deflected shot by Gary Mackay-Steven flops up

in the air and into the back of the net. It came off Bilel Mohsni in the

end. Ten minutes from half-time. Dundee United are winning 2-0. It

was a wicked deflection. Did control from Fraser Aird. Ian

Black is fouled. That was Stuart Armstrong. I think he realises that

there is no case for the defence. Steven Smith with the free kick. It

has gone in. Rangers are back in the cup tie. Radoslaw Cierzniak got his

hand to it, but he could not keep it out. It has not been a first half

that the Dundee United keeper will want to remember. It was a good

strike from Smith, no doubt about it, but Radoslaw Cierzniak will feel

that having got across to it, he should have kept this out. He got a

good couple of hands to it, but the ball went through his gloves and

into the net. It is 2-1. That is a trip on Robertson by

Arnold Peralta. It has been an action packed first half. There was

a barge by Radoslaw Cierzniak. Bobby Madden did not think that was an off

the pulled the penalty claim. -- enough to uphold the penalty claim.

That was quite a first half at Ibrox. The belief of Rangers is

reignited with Steven Smith. He scored with a late first-half free

kick. 2-1 at the interval. feel they're back in the game.

Looking back as well on previous opportunities not taken.

Dundee will have thought they were in a strong position at 2-0 up. They

certainly have it all to do now again.

Armstrong! Sorensen hesitated. Armstrong unable to hit the target.

Great run from the midfield and Sorensen was slow in getting there.

McNamara's Dundee United in front at 2-1.

Moshini. Shiels into a threatening position. The free kick is given. A

couple of yards outside the box. It was Gunning's challenge.

A challenge which, in the end, trailed inside the penalty box.

Stevie Smith. Deflected. Really good goalkeeping from Cierzniak. He had

to adjust as the ball flew up in the air. You just wondered whether this

was going to drop in the net behind Cierzniak. He moved his feet

quickly. Armstrong flicks it off.

Armstrong. Watson. Ciftci. Ciftci was looking to get the all-important

touch. Needing a goal, Dundee United, to fuel a bit more

confidence about the outcome. -- to feel a bit more confident

about the outcome. Robertson. Gunning against Daly.

Ciftci around the goalkeeper and he'll surely take Dundee United

through to the Scottish Cup final! It's a horrible mistake by the

stand-in goalkeep goalkeeper and it's surely now game over. Ciftci

was not going to turn down that invitation to run the ball into the

net. Pf 3-1 Dundee United. Rangers

resistance is surely broken for the final time.

Mackay-Steven turning away from Law. It's great effort from McKay Steven.

Pf Mackay-Steven.

R Foul. Did Ian Black tread on Stuart Armstrong when he was object

ground there? There was a reaction from Armstrong. He was angered by

what happened there -- on the ground there? There was some sorting out to

do for Bobby madden. -- Bobby Madden.

Yellow for Armstrong, yellow for Black. There was the foul. Down went

Armstrong. And a little kick from Black. An angry reaction from

Armstrong as well. Rangers would do well to breathe

life into their game at this stage. Smith's corner.

Turn from Shiels. Back in from Smith. Moshini is there.

Free kick given for a push inside the penalty box.

Played forward by Shiels for Daly. Rangers giving it everything, but

the game has gone. Smith with the throw. Paton got his

head to it. Mackay-Steven. Ciftci. Might be

another goal here for United. It's Mackay-Steven and it's saved by

Cierzniak. The keeper. Dundee United are in the Scottish Cup final led by

Jackie McNamara. They've won the cup twice in the last 20 years, winners

of course in 2010, and they are back in the final. They are heading for

Celtic Park next month. Ciftci getting the goal which sealed the

win. It was a goalkeeping blunder of the highest order from Steve

Simonsen just as Rangers were looking to take the tie further. Big

disappointment for Ally McCoist. Dundee United head to Celtic Park

for the final. Final score at Ibrox, Rangers 1,

Dundee United 3. Pf Was it about chance-taking as much

as anything else, because Rangers had a couple first half then didn't?

Yes, had a few chances, the ricochet, then a goal from a free

kick, but I always thought that was a bit of danger with them in the

open play. The concentration before the game was crucial. We spoke about

that. They do carry a threat with the set pieces. Was it your goal?

Yes, definitely, I'm claiming it. I think he got a touch, but it was

going goalwards so I'll claim it. United were in a great position at

that stage tworks nil up and you looked like you were cruising? Yes.

We wanted to get our noses in early and fair play to Rangers, they came

back into it. Did the complexion of the match change when they got that

goal back just before half time? Yes, I think the end of the first

half was quite nervy and I think that follow-through into the second

half was into the second half. We then all had it in our minds that we

were true to the final. Did it take the mistake to settle it really from

their keeper? Yes, yes. It was a poor touch and the scorer was in the

right place at the right time, Ciftci. I ran up to the goal. I was

nearly celebrating before I scored but a goal is a goal, aisle taking

it. The celebrations are going on in the dressing roosm. It's our final

for a, first final for a long time. I take it you don't care who you

come up against in the final? No, we'll watch tomorrow and see who

deserves to get there and give it our best against them when we see

them next. I'm delighted for everybody connected with the club.

Delighted with the support today and it's great to be there. A very happy

United camp. Rangers don't give interviews to the BBC, so we are

unable to give you their reaction. It was a gripping match. The best

performance? I don't know about the best but I enjoyed the game.

Entertaining stuff. I thought it would get better second half but it

didn't. I knew there would be some drama at some point and there was

with the United third goal. I really enjoyed the tie as a whole. How

deserving were United to be winners? I'm not sure they were 100%

deserving. I thought Rangers played extremely well. The level of space,

it's a speed that I didn't see coming from Rangers. They were

fabulous, the effort they put in. The fans did well. You put that game

in the Champions League, there would have been eight players sent off,

but the ref allowed it to flow, making it a good game. I don't think

it's a 3-1 game, that's harsh on Rangers. There was a suggestion with

the first goal that Ciftci might have been interfering with play.

What do you say? He's walking out of the play there, but let's clear it

up here, Ciftci is looking away so he's not trying to take it in play.

Oes is the angle changed there? It's dead straight behind him, he's not

tried to change his angle so in a physical sense he's not interfering

with play but in a more subtle sense, other people might suggest

that he did. Do you go along with that? Yes, you see it as a gap

between Ciftci and McCullough. McCullough's pace is never going to

catch Ciftci anyway so there's nothing the ref can do to give

Rangers a free kick there. Rangers were much better today but still

defensively suspect? It's difficult for them. Centre halves can't make a

mistake. Look at McCullough. He's asking the players to come out with

him. Moshini is behind him and Smith is behind him a couple of yards. The

two centre backs are together. They are trying to go behind, but the

fullbacks are there. It's a simple ball over the top. It's not

complicated. This one, Billy, I think you agree with me, do of them

are a distance apart and Moshini is all over the place. The ball is

played in, that's the two centre backs out of the play. They are not

working their balance. They got away with that and because they get away

with it, get yourself back. Doesn't clear. It's a catalogue of errors.

The two centre backs are just way out there. Good play in the end from

Gauld? If he doesn't have his best game it's OK because there are

plenty of other strong players. Mackay-Steven for me was a really

special player today with his face alongside Armstrong. Rangers were

much b over overall than they have been of late. What were the key ways

they managed to put pressure on United? From set pieces was huge

from the start of the game. They applied pressure on the United back

four. You see McCullough's head header, Moshini is bundled off the

line. They can get the big players up alongside Daly. You can see

United are ragged and under pressure. Rankin smashes it clear.

They fire these balls into the box, no wonder with Moshini and co. They

didn't do that often enough, but when they did, they looked

dangerous. United are desperate there. When you get a free kick

seven minutes from time, you are 2-1 down and thinking, right, get up

there, get McCullough up, Moshini, Black takes it quickly, one of the

most experienced players, Robertson clears it, they are on the chase,

it's not a great way to pass back but Simonsen should deal with it.

The cup tie's gone. Horrendous for Simonsen but it's not all on his

shoulders? No. It's a tough one to deal with, but obviously it's a

mistake from Simonsen. Part of that is also for a player that's not

playing every week with those defenders and if you're into the

feeling of it, the natural feeling of playing in that ground, you put

your foot to it and you are used to it, but he's trying to impress all

the way through. I felt sorry for Simonsen at that moment. It was a

boiling whirlwind of a match from the word go and if rangers took do

huge chances earlier on, it could have been a different game?

Souttar went for the header, but he was out of position. I think the

ball stops there. It checks back before he is going to hit it. You

will not make that excuse to your manager. I am struggling for an

excuse here. I expected him to take it down, but the goalkeeper is

expecting him to hit it. You have got to get it on target. He makes a

great run. For me, if you are going to strike it with your right foot,

you should be taking the touch with your left foot. But he does not

handle it very well. I was listening to the radio this afternoon, and you

were saying that you felt that United were below par today, and yet

they still managed to beat Rangers 3-1. Rangers' performance was

excellent and they probably deserved replay if everything had gone to

plan. But these United kids are ruthless, they are clinical. They

were not nearly at their best, but they handled the situation well.

Both of those chances, Dundee United broke up the other side, and they

scored immediately. That is how little there was between the teams.

Just those moments made all the difference. If you are a Rangers

fan, that was a better performance. Do you feel short-changed that you

do not get that more of the time? They have one of the biggest playing

budgets in Scotland. You cannot drop your levels. You do not play at that

pace every week, so when you get the chance, you are not sharp enough.

All season, Rangers players have been gambling all season, dropping

their levels. It came back to haunt them today. Given the turmoil that

is happening with Rangers off the pitch, how important was it for Ally

McCoist that Rangers had the performance today that was full of

fight? I was speaking to Rangers fans after the game. They were very

positive about the way the team were playing, the vast majority of them.

But they feel that they have no luck, everything is going against

them. They feel like they have had years of bad fortune with the people

that are running the club. Today, Ally McCoist got a group of players

that fought for him. I think it would be very harsh for the board

and the media guys after works to give too much stick to Ally McCoist.

-- afterwards. You were asking at the start, how did the game was

that? It is one of the best ones I have seen all season. How much

pressure is Ally McCoist under? That will go a long way to use it a

little bit. But I do not have to tell you that Ally McCoist is under

pressure. He was beaten by Raith Rovers last week. Today was a

massive game for them. He is under pressure, but his team gave a

performance today. Perhaps this was Jackie McNamara's finest moment so

far as a manager. It gives them something massive to look forward

to. We have been speaking a lot about Rangers, so it is great to

speak about Dundee United. They did not play the type of football that

we have enjoyed watching this season. That was because Rangers

close them down so well in the first half. But they are vicious when they

get half a chance. Those kids, they have no fear. There is better to

come from them. It could be a fabulous season if they win the

Scottish Cup. But it is better to come for them in the years to come,

if they stay together. You take United today, do you fancy them for

the final? If Aberdeen get through tomorrow, which I think they will

do, I still fancy Aberdeen to do the double. But United, with that front

for Mike, and we cannot leave out Ryan Dow, they are clinical. -- with

that front four. It will be very interesting. And so the first

semifinal of the weekend is down. One more to go. It is a massive game

for us and the club. It will be a difficult game against St

Johnstone. It would be great to get to the cup final. Winning the cup

did wonders for our confidence. He is a big player for them. He brings

massive experience to Aberdeen. Russell Anderson. We are looking

forward to this, it is a great chance to get to a cup final. And St

Johnstone against Aberdeen is live on Sportscene tomorrow. BBC Two, on

air at 12:15, kick-off at 12:45. If you missed any of today's game, you

can see highlights on the website and during coverage of tomorrow's

second semifinal. Consequently, there's no Sportscene highlights

tomorrow night, which means you can all get to bed 45 minutes early!

Given what happened in the League Cup semifinal between those teams,

can you see past Aberdeen? I think they will get through the chi, but

it will be close. The semifinal was unfair and St Johnstone. Nobody

would grudge St Johnstone getting to the final. But they cannot be on the

chase the way they were in this game. They can be a bit more

cautious, because Aberdeen are their best when they hit you quickly.

Aberdeen will find space. That is what happened in the semifinal. This

is the classic, they are leaving space. If you give them chances,

they will take them. They have got quality all the way through their

team. To some degree, it is slightly scary for St Johnstone. I think that

they have to sit back a little bit. If they open up the game, the is

only one winner, Aberdeen. St Johnstone are difficult side to

beat. They were comprehensive winners against Raith Rovers. You

were there. Yes, they have a great team spirit. They have good,

hardened professionals. They can play as well, they have some flair.

But the reaction to this type of situation, losing that goal, it has

been excellent all season. They have come back really well. I think that

this player will be really important. I do not think he will

start, but if you come on late in the game, with his pace and his

directness, if you're going to be the team that is better for you --

better than you, player for player, that is what you need. Russell

Anderson has had a fantastic season, but he is not as quick as he

used to be. If you get Hasselbaink on him, one-on-one, maybe that is

one area where they can get some joy. You can lose the game in the

first half, but you will not win it. Taylor did that in a league game.

Partick Thistle took the lead. It left Russell Anderson exposed. St

Johnstone have to do the same. They do not have to chase the game from

the start. They can sit back a bit, and do what Inverness did. They need

to keep it going. Aberdeen managed a 1-0 victory over Dumbarton in the

previous round. Is the problem for Aberdeen that everyone knows how the

play? It is still hard to stop them. That is a great goal. If the

strike and is capable of doing that with half a chance, you are

struggling to stop them. Aberdeen have handled those situations. They

have gone one goal down and they have come back. But the best way to

beat them is to get them a little bit ragged. You both fancy

Aberdeen? If everyone is playing, and particularly Willo Flood Dan

Robson, I cannot see past Aberdeen. You get the feeling it will be a New

Firm final. It's 25 years since Rangers last beat Dundee United in

the Scottish Cup. That record continues. Congratulations to

United, and from all of us here, goodnight.