OLD FIRM HAMPDEN CLASH IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL FOR DRAPER

HAVING gone toe-to-toe with both Celtic and Rangers this past month, Inverness Caley midfielder Ross Draper suggests next weekend’s Betfred Cup semi-final will be a closer-run affair than the last Old Firm derby.

Celtic, he admits, are the more fluent team and represent a significantly improved force under Brendan Rodgers.

Having viewed the first half of the 5-1 loss, he also acknowledges that the reigning Premiership champions were eminently superior to their Glasgow rivals last time out.

Nevertheless, he concedes to being impressed by the level of Rangers’ play on Friday night. While Celtic toiled to a 2-2 draw in the Highlands a month ago, Rangers secured a 1-0 win which has revised Draper’s opinion on the gulf between the two teams. ‘The game at Celtic Park was a little bit one-sided but it’s tough to call next week,’ he said. ‘They play very

similar football. They try to suck you in and move the ball about, so it will be a good football game.

‘This will be on a neutral ground too, so if everything goes their way, I think Rangers could get a result.

‘I’ve played against Celtic for the last four years. They have improved so much under Rodgers, the way they keep the ball.

‘Rangers maybe aren’t as fluent as that — they go forward a bit more but they are still full of good footballers.

‘That’s why we tried to press high and not give them much time on the ball because the midfield three of (Niko) Kranjcar, (Jason) Holt and (Andy) Halliday can tear you apart.

‘I’m a big fan of the way they play. They have maybe struggled to get results week in week out, but they have shown in the cups that they can beat anyone.’

Friday’s loss brought a five-match unbeaten run to a halt but Draper insists it does not represent a dip in performance.

‘The gaffer said that was probably our best performance in the six games,’ said Draper. ‘It’s mad how football works but against a lesser team we would definitely have

come out on top.’