(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Glasgow: Rangers manager Mark Warburton says his side's Scottish Cup semi-final win over Old Firm rivals Celtic should silence some of the club's critics.
The Gers gaffer who led his side to a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win against their fierce rivals after extra-time ended 2-2 was irritated by some sceptics who had suggested before the game that the fallen Glasgow giants had no chance against the Scottish Premiership leaders.
However after booking their place in a first Scottish Cup final since 2009 Warburton said his players who have also clinched the Scottish Championship and Challenge Cup this season deserved more respect.
"Celtic were the favourites and I can understand this" the Rangers manager said.
"But I was irritated by people underestimating Rangers. We've been good this season. We're not clear in the league by 13 points by chance.
"We deserve to be and the young squad has come together quickly. All credit to the players I think they deserved a little bit more respect.
"I read some outrageous reports about them getting battered by Celtic today. Well they showed today that they've got quality they've got the commitment and the work ethic and that gap is a lot lot narrower than people are talking about."
The match at Hampden was just the second time in four years that the Glasgow giants have clashed since Rangers were forced to start life again in the country's bottom tier following an amazing fall from grace that resulted in liquidation in June 2012.
The match was seen as a gauge of how big the gap between the sides is but despite victory Warburton warned against any sort of complacency in the Rangers ranks.
"The best team won on the day but Celtic are a team packed with international players with European experience and we have to recognise that" the former Brentford boss whose side could end their four-year European exile with victory against Hibernian in May's final said.
"Nothing has changed; we've got to work hard to close the gap.
"We can't go into next season being satisfied with coming second third or fourth or whatever it may be. We have to go in next season to be highly competitive.
"To do that we've got to keep working hard on and off the pitch."
Kenny Miller opened the scoring in the 16th minute before Erik Sviatchenko's 50th minute header took the match to extra time.
Barrie McKay restored Rangers advantage in the 96th minute and Australian international Tom Rogic levelled matters 10 minutes later before the Socceroo star missed the decisive spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out.
The defeat heaps more pressure on Celtic manager Ronny Deila who has come in for criticism this season for some lacklustre displays culminating in another early European exit and a defeat to Ross County in the League Cup semi-final.
However Delia refused to discuss his future after the game.
"You know you are going to get that pressure all the time when you don't get the results you wanted but after this game it is hard to talk about those things" the Norwegian said.
"There are a lot of emotions going on but with bad results you of course get the questions. Now the only thought is to lift ourselves and get the league title to Celtic Park."
Rangers' promotion will see the resumption of regular Old Firm matches in the Scottish Premiership from next season but Deila said his side would be ready for them
"We will see next year what they have to offer. It is a totally different thing to do something over 38 games that do it over one" the Celtic boss said.
"Of course they have improved and they are the second largest budget in the country so of course they will have pressure on them to perform."
AFP