Whittaker urges Rangers to show no mercy in victory pursuit

The full-back helped the Ibrox side take a major step towards claiming the first silverware of the season last night as they beat St Johnstone to secure a place in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final. The 2-0 win at Hampden – thanks to goals from Steven Davis and Lee McCulloch – means Rangers will now face St Mirren in next month's final.

The victory also ensured a good week for Walter Smith's men continued after watching Celtic fail to reduce their 10-point lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League – the Hoops losing their game in hand against Kilmarnock 1-0.

However, Whittaker believes it is too early to make any bold predictions about just how successful this season could be for the Scottish champions.

"We can't get carried away with ourselves," he said, as Rangers now prepare to face St Mirren in the Scottish Cup this weekend.

"We have got a lot of games to go, a lot of games needing winning. We will take each game as it comes. It is cup duty again for us this weekend away against St Mirren and we must look to win that one first of all. We can't relax or switch off.

"If anything, we need to try and widen the gap, keep winning, keep picking up the points and try to put the pressure on them."

Whittaker has weighed in with a few important goals himself this season and was thrilled to see Davis net his third goal in as many games after struggling to find the back of the net in the first half of the campaign.

He said: "Steven's been fantastic. Just recently he has added goals to his game. That is the only thing which has been missing all season.

"His performances have been great. Week in, week out, he is the most consistent player in the team. I am just pleased to see him getting on the scoresheet.

"We all do a bit of shooting in training, but me and Steve are usually there at the end doing extra. It is good and is obviously paying off. I don't know why I have scored the number of goals I have. Perhaps it is just experience.

"When I get into different positions I know how to put the finishing touch onto it. I have managed to get myself into good scoring positions this season and have managed to put it into the net. Having said that, I don't imagine Boydy will be getting nervous! It will be great to see him back among the goals soon."

Kris Boyd was just one of several key players unavailable for the cup clash and boss Walter Smith paid tribute to his side for coming through the tie and booking their place in the final against a backdrop of injuries and the club's well-publicised financial worries.

"It's fantastic, it really is," he said. "What we are open to is the problems that suspension and injuries cause you. Our own squad deserve credit for having the attitude to overcome the little bits of tiredness they're bound to feel."

Disappointed St Johnstone defender Graham Gartland said: "It's always tough to get to a semi-final and then miss out when you know you've got the chance to get to a final.

"But you know that, to get to a final, you are probably going to have to beat one of the Old Firm and we didn't manage to do that. It's just hard to take that we probably weren't ruthless enough in the first half and it has cost us against a good team."

Saints boss Derek McInnes felt his side let themselves down badly as they froze in the Hampden snow. "Ultimately, it's just a feeling of disappointment," he said.

"There's no real satisfaction in terms of how we played and our approach. Maybe I expect too much from us at times and I expect us to be better and defend better.

"Rangers are through because they took a couple of opportunities and they defended better throughout the game. I thought we had some really good performances but I do think certain the goals were very, very poor and ultimately that's cost us."

Murray Davidson missed a good chance to put Saints ahead when he headed wide.

"Nine times out of 10, you would expect him to hit the target and possibly get a goal from there," McInnes said.

"We're just desperate to get back here and have another go at it."