Gers coast into final

Steven Davis (left)
12 April 2012

Rangers cruised into their third successive Co-operative Insurance Cup final as St Johnstone froze 2-0 at snowy Hampden.

First-half goals from the outstanding Steven Davis - his third in as many games - and Lee McCulloch were enough to keep the Ibrox club's treble bid on track.

Steven Naismith also missed a penalty after the break, while only some last-gasp defending spared Saints a heavier semi-final beating.

St Johnstone started well enough and Jody Morris tried his luck in the opening minutes with an audacious shot from distance that dipped just over the crossbar but it was Rangers who should have been ahead just moments later when Nacho Novo raced onto a lovely ball from Davis.

Graeme Smith came off his line to block but was too late in preventing the striker unleashing a shot that looked net-bound before a last-gasp intervention saw Dave Mackay hook off the line to safety.

Northern Ireland international Davis grabbed the opener with 26 minutes gone. A Steven Smith throw-in was collected by Novo who teed up the shot for Davis to rifle high into the empty net at the back post and continue his impressive recent goalscoring form.

The Perth side could have been back on level terms when Filipe Morais whipped a dangerous free-kick into the box and David Weir's attempt at a clearance saw the veteran defender almost nod past his own goalkeeper.

However, Rangers survived that scare and then doubled their advantage with 38 minutes on the clock. Steven Whittaker played the pass back to Lee McCulloch and the midfielder unleashed a ferocious shot from just outside the box which took a slight deflection past the helpless Smith and into the back of the net.

Steven Naismith could have had an immediate impact on the game after coming off the bench - and put the tie beyond St Johnstone - when Whittaker whipped an inviting ball into the box only for the forward to volley wide under pressure from Smith.

The striker then squandered the perfect opportunity to add his name to the scoresheet when he went to ground under pressure from Irvine and referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot with 70 minutes gone, but Smith did well to dive to his left and block a poor effort.

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