Old Firm Game Is Go

Celtic and Rangers will face each other for the first time in almost three years after being drawn together in the Scottish League Cup. The semi-final match will take place on January 31 or February 1 and will be the first time the Glasgow clubs have met since the financial collapse of Rangers in 2012. The last Old Firm meeting came in April 2012 when Celtic won 3-0 at the time Rangers were battling for survival off the field. There was mixed reaction from Scottish football fans on social media, with some relishing the clash while others raised concerns around the off-field trouble which has often surrounded Old Firm games. Celtic striker Anthony Stokes said: ''I think it's going to be different to any other game, any other Old Firm game, because we have gone two or three years now without it. "I'm sure the fans will be looking forward to it, it's going to be an epic game." Rangers manager Ally McCoist told his club's official website: ''I'm delighted with the draw and judging by the reaction from the boys in the dressing room they're happier than me. "It's a great draw for us. Everyone has anticipated it and I don't think there's any doubt Celtic will start as favourites. Of course they will. "It's a smashing game for us though." Celtic manager Ronnie Deila told Superscoreboard: "I'm really looking forward to the game. It's a huge game and hopefully we will win which will make it even better. "We have to prepare every day now for this game to get even better than we are today, and if we do that we will be hard to beat." Cup holders Aberdeen will play Dundee United in the other semi final.