Andy Halliday: Hampden heartache will inspire Rangers to succeed against Celtic

The Light Blues will face Celtic for a place in the showpiece event of the campaign for the second consecutive season on Sunday.

Halliday was part of the Gers side that clinched a dramatic shoot-out success last term but was then denied a medal as Hibernian snatched the silverware from their grasps.

It has been a disappointing Premiership campaign for Rangers but Halliday knows Pedro Caixinha’s side have a chance to end it on a high note.

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He said: “Last year it was the polar opposite because that was a fantastic season and we ended it on a real downer.

“We all know what it is like to go into that last game of the season and then go into your summer with a bitter taste in your mouth. We certainly don’t want to experience that again this season.

“As a football player, a lot of the games that stand out in your memory is the disappointments.

“You think of the ones that you have lost and it makes you strive to be that bit better and grasp it the next time. We have got an opportunity again in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

“It is a Celtic team that are full of confidence and on form on Sunday but hopefully we go into that in a good frame of mind after the last two games and we can get a good result.

Read more: Richard Gough: Rangers players have a chance to become Ibrox heroes against Celtic

“The boys have been here long enough now to know what trophies and the Old Firm game mean to Rangers.

“It is a massive occasion and everyone in the team knows that. It is important that we start well and hopefully we can show our quality and get a positive result.”

Rangers head to Hampden unbeaten in the five matches that Caixinha has taken charge of since he was confirmed as Mark Warburton’s successor at Ibrox.

The Portuguese will make his Old Firm bow as he looks to lead his side into the final and secure a shot at the silverware against Aberdeen or Hibs.

Halliday has started on the bench for the wins over the Dons and Partick Thistle in recent weeks but he is pleased with the form the Light Blues have shown ahead of their biggest 90 minutes of the season.

He said: “The club comes first for me and I am happy to sit back as long as we are getting results. That is all that matters to me.

“It has been two positive results in a row now. We have spoken a lot about consistency this season and that is something that we have not had so far.

Read more: Richard Gough: Rangers players have a chance to become Ibrox heroes against Celtic

“We have got six games left now so hopefully we can get one final push and get a trophy at the end of it as well.

“It has been a disappointing season for us but there have been times where we have played well in games and not got the results. That is down to consistency.

“On Saturday, I don’t think we were at our free-flowing best in the first half an hour but it shows you how important it is to go 1-0 up.

“We have spoken about how we have got one down at Ibrox far too many times this year. The goal came at a good time for us.

“It was a fantastic ball ion from Tav and a great header from Kenny at the back post. It is important to go 1-0 up at Ibrox and we went on from there.”