Michael Beale hands Rangers a Celtic clash demand as boss buzzing for derby triple header

Michael Beale says thoughts of a semi-final with Celtic are parked as they look to Premiership business - but he's delighted at the prospect of facing them three times in a month.

The Light Blues booked a last four Scottish Cup date with their rivals - who beat them at Hampden on Viaplay Cup final duty in February - last Sunday in a 3-0 win against Raith Rovers. They trail in the league by nine points and some quarters view the final piece of major domestic silverware as Rangers ' best chance of winning a trophy this term.

It's one they claimed last season and a win over Celtic would see them into a final with lower league sides Inverness or Falkirk. Motherwell are the challenge this weekend at Fir Park, and they have not won in 54 regular season attempts against the Ibrox club, with the Steelmen earning Beale's full focus as he wants to jump into derby in good condition. He said: "It will be a good game and guarantees three Rangers Celtic matches before the end of the season which is good for us as a squad moving forward.

"We certainly want to show better in these games but there is a lot of football to be played before then. It's a big game, how we arrive into it I am more interested in.

"Another big league game this weekend, our form has been fantastic in the league, certainly our away form and we want to carry that into Motherwell."

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