Mark Warburton has conceded that Celtic pair Kieran Tierney and James Forrest caused trouble for his Rangers side in their 1-0 Scottish League Cup semi-final defeat.

A goal three minutes from time from Moussa Dembele was enough to condemn Rangers to defeat and send them crashing out of the League Cup, ending hopes of a final appearance.




Celtic were on top throughout and could have made the victory far more comfortable than it turned out to be, with Rangers goalkeeper Matt Gilks in inspired form and having thrown down the gauntlet to Wes Foderingham, by showing Warburton what he can do.

Warburton feels that Tierney and Forrest combined well for Celtic and the former Brentford boss thinks the pair posed a real threat to the Rangers backline. However, he was keen to pay tribute to Clint Hill and Rob Kiernan for their defensive work.
 


"We have to recognise in Tierney and Forrest they had two who made a dangerous combination but we got forward as well and we were brave", Warburton told Rangers TV.

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"I was pleased with that and I think it is a risk but I trusted the squad and there was no problem with the personality.

"Clint Hill and Rob Kiernan did well too, there were some good performances and I was delighted with the substitutions in terms of the energy they added."

Celtic are now due to meet Aberdeen in the final of the competition as they look to take the first step towards a potential domestic treble in Brendan Rodgers' first season in charge of the club.

Rangers must now switch their attention to the Premiership, where they host St Johnstone at Ibrox on Wednesday.