Alexander has bubbly put on ice

Rangers keeper calls for side to focus as Falkirk stand in way of double celebration

(REUTERS)

Neil Alexander has warned his Rangers team-mates their double dream could be left in tatters if they do not put their Scottish Premier League title celebrations on hold.

The Ibrox club's players have been ecstatic since ending Celtic's three-year reign as Scottish champions on Sunday. But the season is not over for Walter Smith's men, who can complete their first domestic double since 2003 when they take on Falkirk in Saturday's Homecoming Scottish Cup final.

The Bairns are also on a high after saving their SPL skins on the final weekend of the league campaign and goalkeeper Alexander knows Rangers must prepare properly if they are to hold on to the trophy they won last year. "We enjoyed our title success because it was a fantastic feeling to have finally won the league for the first time in a few years," Alexander said.

"But we are back in training now and preparing for the Scottish Cup final. In many ways, it's the same as last season – you've got to put any success to the back of your mind and just focus on the next challenge. So our focus is now on Falkirk. During the summer, you can look back and you can celebrate, but right now we have another massive game on our hands and we are just working as hard as possible to make sure we are ready for the game."

For the second year in a row, Alexander has been thrust into the spotlight at the key part of a season after playing second fiddle to Allan McGregor. Unlike last term when injury handed him his chance, this time it was McGregor's part in the infamous "Boozegate" saga which has opened the door.

Alexander is hoping to add to his burgeoning silverware collection at Hampden this weekend. He said: "Cup finals don't come around too often in your career so, when you do get the chance to play in one, you have to savour it. I was lucky enough to be involved in last year's final and have a winner's medal to show for it.

"It would be nice to add a second this weekend but we will have to work very hard to get the result we want. Falkirk are not going to turn up at a national final and just roll over; this will be one of the biggest games in their history. We need to give them a lot of respect but, if we play the way we know we can, there is no reason why we can't go out there and secure the double."

Despite being 31, Alexander insists he is still developing as a goalkeeper and believes the pressure of playing at Ibrox has improved him. "I think every game you play in, you learn something new, no matter what age you are," said Alexander, who joined Rangers from Ipswich in January last year. "The experience I have gained in the past couple of seasons has been invaluable and I feel I am now a more mature goalkeeper. Playing at a big club like Rangers, you learn to cope with the pressures that are involved and there is a lot of pressure on you in every game to perform to the highest level.

"This season, I have now played in 13 games, so I feel I have played a part in the success – as has Allan, who has played over 30. It's a great feeling to know that I have done my bit and hopefully this is just the start."

Rangers will receive more than 3,000 additional tickets for the match after Falkirk failed to sell their initial allocation. The Bairns, who originally wanted parity with their opponents at Hampden, sold just 12,200. Rangers will now receive a little over 28,000 tickets in total.