RANGERS boss Mark Warburton insists he has no security concerns ahead of his side’s first visit to Hampden since May’s trouble-hit William Hill Scottish Cup final.
Gers will return to the national stadium when they take on Celtic in Sunday’s BetFred Cup semi-final.
Their last Hampden clash ended in chaos when thousands of Hibernian fans flooded on to the pitch to celebrate a dramatic 3-2 victory as they claimed their first Scottish Cup triumph in 114 years.
But the Ibrox outfit say a number of their players and officials were targeted with abuse by sections of the celebrating Easter Road faithful.
Clashes also broke out on the playing surface when a number of Rangers fans leapt from the stands to confront a section of the Hibs support who took the pitch invasion as a chance to taunt their rivals.
Rangers last month issued a statement demanding the Scottish Football Association take action to ensure there is no repeat, adding: “It should be understood Rangers will not tolerate any of their employees being attacked with impunity.”
But Warburton insists his side are not worried about those ugly scenes being played out again.
“It wouldn’t even enter our minds at all,” said the Englishman.
“It’s a fantastic stadium, it’s a great atmosphere, the playing surface I’m sure is in great condition and we’re looking forward to it.”
Warburton and his players were rushed from the Hampden pitch as the trouble flared and left the stadium without hanging about for their runners-up medals.
But they do have happier memories of Mount Florida from last term after their semi-final victory over the Hoops and the Petrofac Cup final victory against Peterhead.
And Warburton hopes his men can put on a display closer to those than the one they managed last month, when Brendan Rodgers’ rampant side dished out a 5-1 battering.
“I hope the big, wide pitch suits us,” he said. “Offensively there are more spaces to play in but defensively it means there are also more areas to cover.
“The fact we’ve beaten Celtic there before doesn’t come into it mentally. What does is the fact we know the dressing rooms, we are familiar with the whole set-up of a big occasion at the national stadium.”
Warburton knows his men are under pressure to prove there is not a major gulf between the teams following their Parkhead pasting.
He said: “We’re very aware of the significance to the fans and everyone associated with the clubs.
“It’s a semi-final at Hampden, so it’s a different kind of atmosphere to Ibrox or Parkhead.”
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