SPL: Rangers set up Old Firm final

Rangers beat Partick 3-0 in their Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final to set up another Old Firm date.

A goal in each half from Rangers midfielder Christian Nerlinger plus a clincher from captain Barry Ferguson clinched victory.

Partick started strongly but skipper Danny Lennon overdid it in only the fourth minute by getting himself booked for a foul on Nerlinger.

Then Tore Andre Flo set up Nerlinger for the opener, rolling a simple ball into the German's path on the edge of the area and his left-footed effort gave Thistle goalkeeper Kenny Arthur no chance.

There was a penalty scare in the Thistle box in the 15th minute when Flo went down under Paul Deas' challenge but referee Mike McCurry waved play on.

Rangers finished the half strongly, with Neil McCann firing wide before Claudio Caniggia forced Arthur into a parry.

A Nerlinger drive was deflected over before Lorenzo Amoruso headed an Andrei Kanchelskis corner wide from almost in front of the back post.

Thistle tried to regain the initiative after the break and after Scott McLean had caused some alarm the ball fell invitingly for Mark McCulloch - only for the midfielder to scuff his shot.

McCann pinged a shot off Scott Paterson as Rangers dominated without much penetration.

The game needed fresh impetus and Rangers swapped Caniggia for Peter Lovenkrands in the 66th minute.

Nerlinger doubled the lead in the 72nd minute with a move he created and finished himself.

The German took a Ferguson pass in his stride and played the ball forward to Lovenkrands on the left wing before moving smartly into the box to meet the cross with a firm, first-time effort that again gave Arthur no chance.

Deas had to head the ball away from goal after Flo's head had beaten goalkeeper Arthur but within seconds Ferguson had made it 3-0.

The captain began the move with the ball at his feet and after Kanchelskis had supplied Flo with his back to goal, Ferguson collected the ball before stroking it past Arthur.