DEREK Johnstone today accused Rangers players of lacking the heart they need to defeat Celtic in the League Cup semi-final.

The Gers take on their age-old city rivals in the first Old Firm showdown in nearly three years at Hampden on Sunday.

Few Scottish football fans give the SPFL Championship club much hope of beating the Premiership leaders in the massive last-four tie.

And Light Blues legend and SportTiimes columnist Johnstone has revealed that he is one of them.

He believes Kenny McDowall's side are second best to Ronny Deila's team in every single position on the park.

And he has questioned if the Rangers players have the will to win required to come out on top in the world-famous Glasgow derby match.

He said: "The majority of football people aren't giving Rangers an earthly of doing anything and I can see why.

"I've been racking my brains thinking of a way that Rangers can even get themselves involved in this game and compete with Celtic. I'm not even talking about beating them.

"On the majority of occasions it has come down to the nitty gritty in big games this season they have let themselves down badly. In the big games in the Championship against Hearts and Hibs it's just not been there.

"There is one thing you need when you pull on a Rangers shirt to play in an Old Firm game. That is a huge heart underneath it. You need a will to win to be able to compete in this match.

"I don't think there's an awful lot of that in this Rangers squad to be perfectly honest. They are going to have to pull something out of the bag that they haven't done so far this season, that is for sure.

"Because they will be competing against a side that is, player for player, better than them. They are second best in every position.

"Whether it is the goalkeeper, the defenders, the midfielders or the forwards, Celtic have got better players than Rangers. Of that there is no doubt."

Johnstone added: "Morton went to Celtic Park last season and beat them in the League Cup. Upsets do happen in cup competitions. If Celtic's attitude isn't good, if they don't play well, and if Rangers play out of their skins on the day, there is a slight chance they can win.

"But the way Rangers are playing at this moment in time and the way they conduct themselves on the park, I just can't see a way for them to get anything out of the game.

"Celtic fans don't just want their team to win the game, they want them to win 3-0 or 4-0 or 5-0. They want to annihilate them. And on present form I can see why."

But Barcelona Bear Johnstone, who won the League Cup three times in his playing career, is hoping that his stinging criticism inspires Rangers to raise their game and record a memorable triumph against their age-old rivals.

He said: "I am having a dig at them. I would like to think they read it, stick it up on the dressing room wall and say: 'Let's ram his words down his throat'. Maybe it will help to get them going."