McCoist focused on Cup success with Rangers

Last Updated: Friday, March 07, 2014, 11:48

  

Rangers manager Ally McCoist insists his only focus is his side`s Scottish Cup quarter-final tie with Albion Rovers at Ibrox on Sunday, despite a boardroom power-struggle.

Off-field events surrounding the Ibrox club continue to dominate the headlines but the Gers boss says he is ignoring the boardroom shenanigans as he concentrates on leading the club back to success on the pitch.

The Glasgow giants are continuing their journey through the leagues after finding themselves placed in the bottom tier of Scottish football following liquidation in 2012.

However, controversy continues to dog the club and McCoist refused to be drawn on the recent war of words between former director Dave King and the current Rangers board.

King has called on fans to withhold season-ticket money, a move which infuriated Rangers chairman David Somers.

But McCoist is adamant the only thing on his mind is the clash with League Two minnows Albion Rovers as they look to book a place in the semi-finals.

"We`ve got a big game on Sunday and all I`ve been focusing on is that. It`s not difficult to do that because we`ve got a job to do," McCoist said.

"It`s a fantastic game to look forward to and it`s a real opportunity, with an incentive of a semi-final which will be played at our stadium.

"That`s what we`re focusing on. It`s what we should be focusing on and what we are focusing on.

"The only thing I have to pay attention to is the football team, matches, games and results. That`s my job as the football manager.

"I`m not saying everything else is secondary but it`ll all look after itself. I`m totally focused on football and I`ll continue to do that."

This Sunday`s match with Rovers will be Rangers` second meeting of the season with them, more than seven months after the first in the Scottish Football League Challenge Cup.

On that occasion Gers were 4-0 winners but while he believes his team has got better in the time since, the manager has stressed the same applies to the Coatbridge side.

"We certainly won`t underestimate Albion. They had a fantastic result against Motherwell and also beat Stenhousemuir 2-0 at home, something we couldn`t do last time out," McCoist said.

"If you`re looking for warning signs, potential stumbling blocks and hiccups, they`re there and we`ll be guarded against that.

"The opportunity to go through is too important for the team, the club and the fans and we won`t allow any level of complacency at all."

Rangers are unbeaten in the league this season and could clinch the League Two championship with wins in their next two games.

With rivals Celtic already eliminated from the Scottish Cup, Rangers are favourites to win the competition.

However, defender Bilel Mohsni disagrees with their favourites tag.

"I don`t think we`re favourites for the Scottish Cup. There are other Premiership teams who deserve to be favourites more than us," the French defender said.

"But in a cup, any team can beat any other team. Every player in our squad would like to face a Premiership team to see what we can do against them.

"That`s what we`re looking for in the next draw if we get through this round on Sunday."

In Saturday`s quarter-finals, Championship side Raith Rovers host St Johnstone while in-form Aberdeen take on Championship side Dumbarton at Pittodrie.

Sunday`s other quarter-final is an all Premiership affair as Inverness Caledonian Thistle will hope to get a boost before next weekend`s League Cup final as they take on Dundee United for a place in the last four.
Fixtures (1500 unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Raith Rovers v St Johnstone (1215), Aberdeen v Dumbarton
Sunday

Inverness CT v Dundee United (1230), Rangers v Albion Rovers (1530)

AFP ----------------------- ZEENEWS.com