Caledonian wary of Rangers' reputation

Scottish football

Caledonian Thistle, the Third Division club from Inverness who are barely 18 months into their Scottish League history, face Rangers' star-studded team today for a place in the Tennents Scottish Cup semi-finals

The match, played at Dundee United's Tannadice Park ground, is a tie which captures all the romance of the Cup, but Thistle's manager, Steve Paterson, a one-time Manchester United player, is fearful the love affair may turn sour.

"At five to three I will be very apprehensive wondering what is going to happen," Paterson said. "My ideal would be to contain Rangers at least until half-time. I'd consider losing 1-0 as containing them," he said.

Rangers will unleash Ally McCoist from the start but the new Danish striker Erik Bo Andersen is ineligible. Richard Gough, Stuart McCall and Ian Ferguson are out injured but Alex Cleland is in the squad.

In tomorrow's other quarter-final, Cup specialists Airdrie go to Aberdeen, the Coca-Cola Cup holders. Aberdeen have their captain, Stewart McKimmie, out injured but Dean Windass and Duncan Shearer are added to Roy Aitken's squad.