Andy Halliday optimistic Rangers can beat Celtic in Scottish Cup

Andy Halliday is optimistic Rangers can become the first Scottish team to inflict defeat on Celtic since Brendan Rodgers took charge.

The teams meet in a Scottish Cup semi-final next Sunday, live on Sky Sports 2, with the Ibrox side going into the game off the back of an eight-match unbeaten run.

Celtic, of course, are yet to lose to domestic opponents since Rodgers' arrival last summer and their own sequence without losing to another Scottish side goes back 11 months.

After losing 5-1 in the first Old Firm derby of the season, however, Rangers have shown gradual improvement in the fixture since then and drew 1-1 at Parkhead in the league last month.

Halliday said: "It's a big game, it's a semi-final, a knock-out competition. If you can't get up for this game, you're in the wrong sport.

"It's a massive occasion, a global audience is watching. I've managed to be part of a few and I can't wait for the next one.

"There were certainly positive signs when we went to Parkhead. We showed what a bit of grit and desire did on the day.

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"It wasn't the best football we've ever played but that hard work and determination - you can see what it can give you and it got us a positive result.

"All the contributing factors will need to be firing for us on Sunday and then we'll hopefully get a good result."

Rangers lost 1-0 to Celtic in the last four of the League Cup this term but beat their biggest rivals on penalties at the same stage of the Scottish Cup last season.

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Much has changed at both clubs since then and it has been a largely turbulent campaign for the Ibrox side, with former manager Mark Warburton leaving in February.

Pedro Caixinha has since replaced him, winning three of his first five games including Saturday's home encounter against Partick, with Kenny Miller and Jon Toral netting in a 2-0 victory.

Halliday added: "We've certainly got a bit of confidence. We had a really positive result against Aberdeen last week and we took that into Saturday's match.

"We certainly don't need to get carried away. It's two wins, Celtic are obviously high in form themselves.

"They've had a really consistent season which is something we've not managed to stamp our authority on."

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