Ally McCoist has admitted he cannot recall a better Rangers display against Celtic in recent memory after the Ibrox side secured a 3-0 win in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals.
The 63-year-old believes Derek McInnes masterminded a throwback to a different era with tactics that befuddled Martin O'Neill's side. The Premiership champions failed to lay a glove at Ibrox as Dan Neil scored twice and £9.5m signing Kevin Kelsy netted his first goal in light blue.
McCoist's morning after gets better
McCoist's post-match mood improved further when he learned Celtic fan Alan Brazil was giving him a wide berth after the result.
Rangers' record goalscorer praised the team he adores and voiced concerns over Celtic's direction, claiming Colby Donovan was lucky to see the final whistle after several tackles following an early yellow card.
McCoist on Rangers' performance
Speaking to talkSPORT, the Ibrox hero said: "Rangers were brilliant. I think the nation will accept the floor should be mine. I haven't seen Rangers play like that in a long, long time. I was delighted. I know they had picked up a bit, I am not getting carried away, I can't get carried away. Poor start (to the season), a nightmare in Europe, then they had three or four narrow victories, clean sheets but not convincing. I couldn't see that performance and result coming."
He added: "I would love to know what the Celtic fans think because they absolutely never turned up but Rangers were excellent. Do you know what I loved about it? Dan Neil was brilliant, probably man of the match, they didn't have a poor player in the team. But it was a throwback: the two centre forwards up top, Kelsy and Naderi, they went a lot more direct, two centre backs couldn't handle it, (Sam Johnstone) looked nervy, the right-back (Donovan) was probably lucky to stay on the pitch. Carter Vickers doesn't look 100 per cent fit, but he has been out a long time with his injury, to be fair. I want away fans, I do, but the atmosphere in the place was absolutely jumping."
Brazil's reaction sparks laughter
McCoist was reduced to fits of laughter after co-host Gabriel Agbonlahor revealed Brazil had ignored the Rangers hero but replied to him after the derby.
Brazil branded the Premier Sports encounter the "Mickey Mouse Cup" and was left alarmed by Sebastian Tounekti and Sam Johnstone's display, which set McCoist off as he basked in the glow of a signature win.
