Celtic should teach Rangers a lesson at Hampden, says Mark Wilson
The Rangers players cheered when they were drawn against their Old Firm rivals
Mark Wilson believes his former Celtic side would have wanted to teach Rangers a lesson for celebrating being drawn against them in Scottish Cup semi-final.
Graeme Murty's squad were in the Ibrox dressing room following their 4-1 quarter-final win over Falkirk on Sunday when they cheered after hearing they had been paired with the holders, while Motherwell were drawn against the winners of the Kilmarnock and Aberdeen's replay.
Rangers' last win over Celtic was on penalties at the semi-final stage two seasons ago and since then the Parkhead side have not lost a domestic cup tie and are on course for a second successive treble.
And in the eight fixtures between the Glasgow giants since the Govan club made the 2016 final, Celtic have won six with two draws which left Wilson surprised by the Gers reaction.
The former right-back, who played for the Hoops between 2006 and 2012, said: "I am a wee bit surprised that they were cheering the draw given their recent history against Celtic.
"You would obviously be looking forward to playing them and try to teach them a lesson at Hampden.
"I would have thought the Rangers players would have much preferred an easier route to the final and potentially taking Celtic on then.
"You would think that if Rangers had got result after result (against Celtic) they would be going, 'yes, you beauty'.
"But when you are just managing to scrape draws and you are viewing those results as big successes then you would have thought they would have wanted to keep them for the final and maybe cause an upset then.''
The two sides meet at Ibrox in the Ladbrokes Premiership next Sunday with leaders Celtic six points clear of Rangers with a game in hand.
Celtic right-back Mikael Lustig will miss out through suspension and he sat on the bench as boss Brendan Rodgers employed a back three during the Hoops' 3-0 William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Morton on Saturday.
Wilson believes Rodgers will resist any temptation to bring in Costa Rica right-back Cristian Gamboa or fit-again Anthony Ralston who has not played since last September.
"I think Brendan will go with a back three again,'' he said. "It is whether he takes (Marvin) Compper out and brings in Jack Hendry and moves (Kristoffer) Ajer across.
"It has been shown that Brendan doesn't have much trust in Gamboa.
"There have been games he could have played in and he decided to go with a three instead of sticking with four at the back.
"It shows you that he doesn't really trust him. So I don't think he will play him.
"I think James Forrest will play on the right and occupy that right wing-back role that he does so well.
"Ralston is a terrific talent and he will have a huge future at Celtic.
"It would be a wee bit unfair on Ralston to bring him in after being out so long.
"I still see Celtic winning it. In the big games, especially against Rangers, Celtic have got that edge and can step it up but I think there will be a few goals in the game.'