BankofAthletes - Investing in Talents

Rangers' Irish midfielder Steven Davis, seen here in 2009, scored the first goal for Glasgow as they went on to beat St Johnstone at Hampden 2-0 in the semi-final of the League Cup.

Rangers strolled into the League Cup final with a comprehensive 2-0 semi-final win over St Johnstone at Hampden here on Wednesday to reach their fifth successive final since Walter Smith returned as manager in 2007.

Rangers will meet St Mirren in the final in March.

Nacho Novo and Steven Davis had come close before the latter gave the Old Firm side the lead.

Lee McCulloch fired a second from range in the first-half before substitute Steven Naismith had a penalty saved with 20 minutes left.

St Johnstone, who were facing Rangers on cup duty for the fourth time in four seasons, gave a good account of themselves without giving the victors stand-in keeper Neil Alexander much to do.

Alexander was called into action early on when he raced out to clear the danger from a long ball as Cillian Sheridan closed in before Jody Morris fired over the bar from 25 yards out.

However, Rangers didn't take long to find their feet and Novo should have given them a fifth minute lead.

The Spaniard collected a through ball from Davis and knocked it past Graeme Smith but Dave Mackay slid in to clear his soft side-footed effort off the line.

Good link up play between John Fleck and Davis saw the Northern Irishman break into the box and round Smith but a last ditch challenge from Gary Irvine prevented him from slotting home.

Davis didn't have to wait long to get on the score-sheet when he gave Rangers the lead in the 26th minute.

Novo's cross found him in the box and although Smith saved his initial shot the midfielder hooked the ball in from a difficult angle to score his third goal in three games.

St Johnstone continued to press forward and a Filipe Morais almost slipped through the fingers of Alexander before he watched as Liam Craig's free-kick go inches wide of his post after taking a deflection off David Weir.

Just as it looked like Saints might have found their way back into the game Rangers struck again through McCulloch.

The Scotland man struck a fierce drive from about 20 yards out that flew past a host of players in the box and under the legs of Smith in goal.

Saints replaced Morais at half-time with Steven Milne and their new 4-4-2 formation almost paid dividends straight away as Sheridan went close with a snap-shot from just inside the box.

Naismith replaced Novo and the Scotland international nearly scored with his first touch as he got in front of Smith to meet Steven Whittaker's cross but flicked his shot over the bar.

St Johnstone kept up the pressure but without testing Alexander as both Craig and Davidson sent shots straight to the keeper.

Rangers had the chance to put the game out of reach when they were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute when Irvine barged into the back of Naismith as he attempted to connect with Whittaker's cross.

The striker picked himself up to take the spot-kick but former Rangers keeper Smith saved his poorly struck effort low to his left.