STEVEN GERRARD insists it will be unfair to play a Betfred Cup semi-final less than 48 hours after a Europa League group stage clash next month.

The SPFL are facing a nightmare fixture scenario after the Old Firm were kept apart in the draw for the last four of the competition.

Rangers set up a meeting against Aberdeen with a 4-0 win over Ayr United at Ibrox last night, while Celtic left it late to see off St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and clinch a showdown with Hearts on the weekend of October 27/28.

Gerrard’s side host Spartak Moscow in the Europa League on the Thursday night, while Celtic are in Germany to face RB Leipzig.

And now Hampden chiefs risk the wrath of one of the Glasgow giants if they make them play at Hampden on Saturday lunchtime.

Gerrard joked: “The way I understood it was the first tie out of the draw plays on Saturday? No, I haven’t been told that! I thought that was always the case?

“Listen, whoever has to do that, it’s not fair on any team, having played on the Thursday night. I’ll be interested to see the outcome, how they decide. All the best with that one.

“I don’t think it says too much about us yet. We played very well in the last round at Kilmarnock on a tough pitch. We were very good on the day.

“A lot of people who took interest in this game against Ayr were waiting for us to slip up, have an ego and not approach it right. But we had the right mentality and attitude. We can’t take anything from the result tonight, though - we’ll get judged at the end of the season.

“We’ll deal with that when we have to. I’m not sure how they will select who plays when or what the rules are. Whoever has to do it, it won’t be fair as 48 hours is not enough.”

Rangers will be without striker Alfredo Morelos for the semi-final showdown after he picked up a first half booking against the Honest Men.

And Gerrard now faces a selection dilemma with Kyle Lafferty cup-tied after turning out for Hearts earlier in the League Cup.

Gerrard said: “I can understand him getting frustrated as I thought it was a foul on him.

“The ref said that their player got the ball cleanly but I disagree. I can understand his frustration today.

“He’s got it wrong at some points in the season and I’ve told him about that but i get his frustration here.

“But we suffer as a club and that’s the disappointing thing. It’s the only thing that disappoints me tonight.

“It’s a frustration – we lose a player in form and we are going to have to find a way to get the job done without a natural nine unless [Umar] Sadiq comes to the party and improves an awful lot between now and then.”

The loss of Morelos was the only negative on a comfortable night for Rangers as the Colombian joined Nikola Katic and Glenn Middleton, who hit a brace either side of half-time, on the score sheet.

Gerrard made several changes to his starting line-up but was pleased with the professional performance from the Light Blues.

He said: “The aim was to get to the semi-final. As a manager and staff we had to get the balance right in terms of making changes and keeping a strong team out there.

“I also had one eye on Livingston on Sunday which is going to be a big three points for us.

“So I’m really pleased to get the job done with four goals and a clean sheet. We have offloaded a lot of key players who will in contention for the weekend.”