Old Firm avoid each other in CIS Cup semi-finals

THE Old Firm have avoided each other in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-finals.

Holders Rangers were today drawn against Falkirk and Celtic will play Dundee United, last season's runners-up.

The matches will take place at Hampden on January 27-28.

Celtic and Rangers are on course for their first meeting in the final since 2003, when the blue half of Glasgow triumphed 2-1.

There could also be a repeat of last season's final, which Rangers won on penalties after Kris Boyd twice equalised against United in a 2-2 draw.

United last won the tournament in 1981 when they beat city rivals Dundee to retain the silverware.

Falkirk are in their second semi-final in three years having lost 3-0 to Kilmarnock at Fir Park in their previous encounter.

The draw was made without a glitch this afternoon at the Scottish Parliament despite a massive blunder at the same venue last year, when presiding officer Alex Fergusson matched the balls with the wrong clubs.

It only emerged in the early evening that there had been a mistake.

Fergusson, who again drew the balls out with First Minister Alex Salmond, joked that he was grateful for "having the chance to redeem himself".