A SUBLIME glancing header from Lewis Macleod ensured Rangers victory over St Johnstone - and their second SPFL Premiership scalp of the season.

The midfielder, who had scored the winner in the last round against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, rose to meet a Fraser Aird cross with just four minutes remaining.

Macleod's late effort secured a place in the semi-final of the League Cup and increased the chances of a first game against Celtic in three years.

At the same time it gave Gers manager Ally McCoist a huge lift in a week when speculation has abounded that he was about to be sacked.

Rumours were rife that Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley seizing power at the troubled Glasgow giants would result in the manager being deemed surplus to requirements.

McCoist is no stranger to the pressure that comes with occupying a prominent position either on or off the field at Rangers.

After all, he spent 15 years leading the line for the Ibrox club and, for all his success, received his fair share of abuse from the supporters while doing so.

And as manager in the last three years he has seldom been out of the firing line - despite the difficult circumstances he has been forced to work in.

So he knows better than almost anybody how to cope with the intense scrutiny that is focused on key figures at the Govan club.

An ability to deal with the hysteria that greets any development at the Gers is arguably his greatest strength, as boss.

And it will serve him well in the weeks ahead as another new regime - the umpteenth of his turbulent tenure - takes over.

Of course McCoist, a lifelong supporter, will insist that the team winning is of greater importance than his personal situation.

Nevertheless, he knows his position will be strengthened if his players impress in the league and in the cup competitions they are involved in.

Having seen the club through those dark days of administration, and having steered them out of the bottom two divisions, he is keen to see a successful end to "The Journey".

Having a tilt at their Old Firm rivals Celtic for the Scottish title and leading Rangers back into Europe are ambitions for McCoist further down the line.

what former Newcastle United managing director Derek Llambias - who has been appointed as a consultant at Ibrox - thought of proceedings last night is unsure.

He has previously worked in the Barclays Premier League in England and will be used to watching a far higher standard of fare and a more expensive player.

Yet overcoming a top flight club, even one with far inferior resources, and progressing to the last four of a national cup competition was significant for Rangers and McCoist.

St Johnstone are - after losing Stevie May and Steven McLean - a shadow of the side that defeated Dundee United in the Scottish Cup final back in May. Their poor league form underlines that.

Still, the Perth club are -with the exception of Hearts and Hibs - superior to the teams Rangers face on a weekly basis in the second tier.

In the likes of Dave MacKay, Simson Lappin, Frazer Wright, Brian Easton and Murray Davidson, Saints can boast decent and experienced professionals.

Rangers were lucky not to fall behind early in the first half when a Michael O' Halloran cross from the right fell to Lappin in the six-yard box. Richard Foster did well to block his shot.

Macleod, who moved back to the left side of midfield with Ian Black regaining full fitness, outsprinted Chris Millar to set up Kris Boyd with a chance in the 17th minute.

Boyd has overcome his scoring drought in the past fortnight and has netted in league wins over Raith Rovers at home and Dumbarton away.

But he should have done far better on this occasion. He shot straight at advancing keeper Allan Mannus.

The visitors' hopes of reaching the last four of the competition suffered a blow when central midfielder Davidson suffered a facial injury in an accidental collision with Darren McGregor and was stretchered off.

However Tommy Wright's side squandered a decent chance to forge in front just before half-time after capitalising on some slack play by Rangers left-back Lee Wallace.

His careless pass was intercepted by Lee Croft who picked out Frazer Wright in space with a cross. But the centre-half's header arched over the crossbar.

Macleod linked well with Boyd once again early in the second-half and the striker was unlucky that his side-footed attempt was deflected wide of goal by Wright.

Simsonsen enjoyed an excellent performance between the sticks for Rangers and saved well from Lappin and O'Halloran.

However, he injured his head denying Graham and was also carried off. Lee Robinson took over from his fellow Englishman.

It was his first appearance for Rangers in eight years and only his second game for the Ibrox club. He rose to the occasion admirably.

Lee McCulloch thought he had put his side in the semi- final in the 80th minute when he headed in a Macleod free-kick.

But assistant referee Michael Banks ruled it offside. Macleod had the ball in the net just six minutes later though. And on that occasion it stood.

Nobody was more pleased than his manager.