Hibs run against Rangers has been embarrassing for too long but I have an example of what could happen - Tam McManus

It was 20 years ago last month but it still feels like yesterday – and it was a day that can still be used for inspiration today.

If the current Hibs team want to look for an example of what could happen against Rangers this weekend, they should take a peek at the League Cup semi-final at Hampden. We had a team full of weans – and we managed to knock out a side of superstars. That penalty shootout win was one of the best feelings of my career. When you look back at that Hibs side, with the likes of Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Garry O’Connor and Derek Riordan – and yours truly – it resembles a right good side.

But back in 2004 we were still just kids and no one gave us a hope in Hell of beating that Rangers team. They had genuine world class players in their line up back then. The De Boer brothers, Mikel Arteta, Michael Mols, Stefan Klos, Christian Nerlinger and so on. They were paying top dollar for players and they’d dished out a couple of sore ones to us that season before Hampden.

We had to do it the hard way, coming from behind and scoring a late equaliser with Stephen Dobbie’s penalty. It went to spot kicks and it was joy, relief, the lot to stick mine away and some celebration at the end when we won. I’d argue that was a bigger upset than it would be if Hibs could knock out Rangers on Sunday.

The gap was wider back then – but that doesn’t mean it’s not a tall order for Hibs now. We were young guys and showed no fear. That will be the key this time around for Nick Montgomery’s side. There’s no doubt they will need to be a heck of a lot better than they’ve been in recent games against Rangers though.

The two games this season have been embarrassing. The 4-0 at Ibrox was poor and it could have been more. The 3-0 at