Alex McLeish expects Rangers to put in better Old Firm showing on Sunday

Alex McLeish never saw fear enter the eyes of Barry Ferguson when he was his Rangers boss.

And he reckons current Ibrox manager Mark Warburton will be able to see that same unflinching look when he turns to Andy Halliday ahead of this Sunday's BetFred Cup semi-final clash with Celtic.

Former Gers and Scotland chief McLeish could always count on his captain to put in a performance, no matter who the Light Blues were up against.

Halliday may not possess quite the same quality as his Rangers predecessor but McLeish believes his desire to succeed will ensure he has a similar impact on the present-day line-up.

And he reckons that drive will be crucial if Gers are to bounce back from last month's Old Firm disaster when they face up to their rivals again at Hampden this weekend.

McLeish, who was appearing on behalf of BT Sport, told Press Association Sport: "We had a lot of foreign guys in our side when I was Rangers manager but they really did adapt to the Rangers culture. Guys like Michael Mols and Arthur Numan really enveloped themselves in Rangers as an institution.

"I could name many more like that but it was also important to have guys like Barry Ferguson, who grew up in the system and lived and breathed for the club.

"He was integral to our success. I would have taken Barry anywhere. He could have played on any stage in the world and not be fazed. He'd just say, 'Give me the ball'.

"For such a young guy he was a real leader and I can see that same kind of mentality in Andy Halliday.

"He will take the ball anywhere. He's not scared to receive it, not scared to use it or to try things.

"It looks to me like Barry Ferguson has been a role model for Andy in the way that he tries to play.

"He is the type of guy who will demand from his team-mates that what happened at Celtic Park is not allowed to happen again."

Warburton has faced his toughest spell since moving to Glasgow in the six weeks that followed his side's dismal 5-1 thrashing at Celtic Park.

Everything from his handling of the Joey Barton saga to his unyielding insistence on attacking play has been questioned and pulled apart.

But McLeish believes the Englishman's players could do their boss a favour by shouldering some of the tactical burden.

He said: "The players have to study and look back at last month's game and say to themselves where they could have done better.

"They need to spot where they could have tucked in more or been more compact.

"Everyone talks about certain players and how they like to get forward. That doesn't matter so long as they get themselves back in.

"The players have to take more responsibility that simply turning round and saying, 'Get us organised gaffer'.

"James Tavernier and Lee Wallace have been huge successes for Rangers but first of all they are defenders. Yes they are highly influential in getting forward but they have to make sure they are in helping their centre-backs, because they need protection.

"That also goes for Halliday and Jason Holt in front of them because if Celtic get in those pockets of space on the edge of the box that could be a big problem."

But McLeish cannot see Warburton unpacking the same game plan that failed so spectacularly last time when he arrives at the national stadium this weekend.

"Mark will probably have looked at the Celtic video a few times and he will pull things from it that tactically he will have to try and negate this time," said the former Hibs, Birmingham and Aston Villa boss.

"That's not easy though when you're up against a team full of pace and who have fantastic momentum.

"I would have thought Mark would be trying to shackle certain Celtic players and make them less effective than in the last game.

"There is the possibility they could go more compact when they don't have the ball because Celtic did score two or three of their goals last time on the counter. It's always a dangerous game when you are open against a team with great speed.

"They also need to brush up on the basics. Celtic got their first goal when Moussa Dembele was allowed a free header. That just cannot happen. They must be tighter."