Warburton urges Gers to focus on title race over Old Firm clash

Semi-final: Boss stresses his priorities ahead of key league meeting with Morton

Mark Warburton insists that even a seven-goal thrashing of Celtic in their William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final will count for nothing if his Rangers side mess up in the league.

The Light Blues are 12 points clear of Falkirk at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship having played a game less than the Bairns and steaming towards the title and a return to the top flight.

Since the cup draw on Sunday, which took place a day after Rangers hammered Ladbrokes Premiership side Dundee 4-0 at Ibrox, attention has been on the Old Firm game at Hampden Park next month.

However, speaking ahead of the home clash with Morton tomorrow night, War burton was keen to stress his priority.

He said: "Right now we have a job to do. You could have a scenario whereby you could go into that semi-final, you could win by seven goals, if you don't do your job in the league, you have had a shocking season.

"Our aims at the start of the season were not to win a cup final, of course go as far as you can in the tournament, but our aim was clearly about the league and you can't lose focus.

"It is our job to make sure we have got that task done in the league. There is a big game on Friday against Morton, that is the key right now.

"If we can get our job done and win the games of football, when it comes round to the game against Celtic it will be fantastic, we will enjoy it and prepare well for it but now it is not in our thoughts."

Asked how close the two teams were in terms of standards, Warburton said: "Celtic are top of the league, they have had European competition for the last number of years, they have a squad full of international players and we are very respectful of that.

"We are not under any illusion about the quality of Celtic.

"But right now were are in good shape as well, we are performing well, doing what we have to do within our league."

Asked if top scorer Martyn Waghorn could recover from his knee injury in time for the Celtic game, Warburton said: "I doubt that. We are not going to rush him back."

Picture: SNS Group. Mark Warburton has stressed that he would rather see Rangers win the league title than beat Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Scottish Cup semifinal.