Football: McCoist unsettles Saints

St Johnstone. . .1

Rangers. . . . . 3

RANGERS, led by two goals from Ally McCoist, overcame a spirited challenge from St Johnstone in the Skol Cup semi-final at Hampden last night to progress comfortably to next month's final. They now await the outcome of tonight's Celtic v Aberdeen tie.

McCoist scored in the 25th and 68th minutes and although he claimed a hat-trick, Kevin McGowne appeared to beat him to Ian Durrant's cross to put past his own keeper for Rangers' second goal.

Rangers took the lead when the St Johnstone defence allowed McCoist a yard of space at a corner. He collected the ball from a Gough header and took advantage of the lack of attention to wheel round and slide the ball under Andy Rhodes.

McCoist again had an unnerving effect on the Perth defence five minutes from the interval as Rangers increased their lead. The striker appeared to be closely marked by McGowne who had learned a lesson from Rangers' first effort, but he succeeded only in shooting an own goal.

McCoist struck again when he took a Durrant pass and slipped a tackle before shooting past Rhodes. Four minutes later St Johnstone scored from the penalty spot through Paul Wright.