Co-operative draw keeps Old Firm on track for final - but United and Falkirk relish their chance

CELTIC and Rangers avoided each other in yesterday's draw for the semi-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup – and the organisers avoided a repeat of the fiasco which marred the event last year.

The draw, held in one of the committee rooms at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, went so smoothly that it was in fact over before it had been scheduled to begin. The traditional kick-off time of 3pm had been decided on, but a digital wall clock in the room still only read 2.58pm when proceedings were concluded.

Celtic were first out of the hat, and were drawn to meet Dundee United in a game which will be screened live by BBC Scotland on Wednesday, 28 January. Rangers were next, and that left Falkirk. Those teams will play the previous evening, with both ties taking place at Hampden Park.

The semi-final draw in 2007 was marred by a mistake from Alex Fergusson, the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. He mixed up the numbers, announcing that Rangers would play Aberdeen when, in fact, they had been drawn to meet Hearts, and it was several hours before the Scottish Football League announced that a mistake had been made.

Fergusson was there again yesterday, alongside First Minister Alex Salmond. He began by thanking those present for attending the draw, and thanking the organisers "for giving me the opportunity to redeem myself".

The draw keeps alive the possibility of an Old Firm final, and of a repeat of last year's final, in which Rangers beat Dundee United. Both the Ibrox club and Celtic will be strong favourites to progress, but Tam Scobbie of Falkirk, for one, is happy with the status of underdogs.

"The three other teams are in good form, so we knew it was going to be hard whoever we were drawn against," he said. "We're going in as underdogs, and we always seem to do well against Rangers."

Falkirk have reached the penultimate round for the second time in three years. In 2007 they were beaten by Kilmarnock at Fir Park, and Scobbie is pleased that win or lose this time, he and his team-mates will at least be able to play at Hampden.

"I haven't played there, and it will be a great occasion. It should always be at a big stadium," he said. "I think the pitch will benefit us. If we get the ball down and pass it the way we can do, we can give anyone a game, including the Old Firm."

Scobbie is currently out of action with a hernia, but he has resumed training and should be back in the Falkirk side by the time the semis come around.

Dundee United were represented by Warren Feeney, who scored in his team's 2-1 win last Saturday against Aberdeen but was then injured in training earlier this week. In common with Scobbie, Feeney suggested that United were comfortable with their status as outsiders. "We are going to be massive underdogs, but we like that," he said. "I'm happy (with the draw], to be honest.

"Obviously it's going to be tough, but it's one to look forward to. The gaffer (United manager Craig Levein] has made it quite clear to us he wants to win this tournament."

United had a slow start to the season, but Feeney suggested they were showing their true form more recently with a run which, before last night, had seen them win seven and draw two of their last nine games. "We were a new team, with new players," he said. "It was a slow start, but he's a great manager and is getting the reward for it now."