Cup stays strong for Miller after 15 years
whose goal against St Johnstone on Tuesday night sealed Rangers’ place in the League Cup semi-finals.
But Miller is also desperate for some more glory for himself before hanging up his boots. Rangers are fighting on four fronts as they seek to lift a first major trophy since 2011, and head to Dumbarton today buoyed by the midweek victory over their Premiership opponents.
It is Miller’s first experience of the Scottish Cup since leaving Rangers in 2011 to join Turkish club Bursaspor.
“I think we set our stall out this year that first and foremost is winning the league and getting back to the Premiership,” he said. “But obviously this club is about winning trophies. It would be good to put at least one on the board. We are in two semifinals already in the League and Petrofac Cups and we have a chance to kick on in the Scottish Cup. We will be looking to get to the latter stages in that as well.”
As a former Celtic player, Miller is particularly relishing the prospect of a semi-final against the Parkhead side, with the League Cup draw due to be made later today. “I’ve been all over the place in my career and people always ask what the Old Firm games are like,” he said.
“When the fixtures used to be drawn up the first one you looked for was the Old Firm game. If it is drawn out of the hat I’m sure it will be a good occasion.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to do well in them. In my last spell here I scored a brace in each of the first two games.”
Whoever Rangers face in the last four, Macleod will be a significant factor in the outcome. Miller hailed his contribution to the Rangers side.
“We all know he is a fantastic footballer,” he said. “I saw it two years ago when I came in here to do a bit of training during the close season of the MLS. He was the first one that caught the eye.”
Rangers manager Ally McCoist will turn to thirdchoice goalkeeper Lee Robinson again as a replacement for Steve Simonsen, who was carried off on Tuesday after bashing his head against a post.
SPFL Premiership Celtic Park, today, 3pm Updates on BBC Radio Scotland 810MW INVERNESS defender Graeme Shinnie is aiming for another clean sheet against Celtic to continue their miserly start to the season.
Caley Thistle have kept shutouts in seven of their 11 Scottish Premiership games, including their home victory over the champions in August.
Inverness travel to Parkhead today sitting three points above their hosts in the table and Shinnie will be happy to keep things tight again.
The left-back said: “It’s always good to get a clean sheet against Celtic with the firepower they have got. We were really on top that day and the focus was really there. The clean sheet that day was vital obviously and it gives us a platform to go on and win games. We won that game 1-0 and we have won the last two games 1-0.
“As long as we keep clean sheets it gives us a platform to go and grab a goal and, if we get that, we can defend for the win and try to control the game and pass the ball around, not hav- ing to go gung-ho trying to get a goal.”
Inverness triumphed over Dundee United last week without the suspended Ryan Christie, who returns to the squad today.
James Vincent slotted in seamlessly and Shinnie feels that shows the strength in depth of John Hughes’ squad.
“I thought James was very good on Saturday,” Shinnie said. “There are players who have been out of the team who are working hard to get back in. It’s all good positive things for the team, competition for places, and it’s keeping all the boys on their toes who are playing in the games.”