Rod Wallace steered Rangers into the final of the League Cup yesterday with a double blast at Celtic Park. Rangers needed only six minutes to make the breakthrough. Airdrie goalkeeper John Martin mis-hit a clearance straight to Jonatan Johansson 30 yards out. His pace took him beyond the Airdrie defence and he prodded the ball past the transfixed Martin.

Then, 10 minutes before the break, Andrei Kanchelskis's perfect cross was headed in by substitute Ian Ferguson to double the tally.

Airdrie made a positive start after the break but paid the price for their adventurousness when Wallace latched onto a long clearance by Colin Hendry, bypassed Martin and slid the ball home. Wallace added his second five minutes later and substitute Gordon Durie grabbed Rangers' fifth a minute from time.

Rangers: Charbonnier, Porrini, Wilson, Hendry, Vidmar, Kanchelskis, B. Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst (Numan 73), Albertz (I Ferguson 22), Wallace, Johansson (Durie 64). Goals: Johansson 6, I Ferguson 34, Wallace 72, 77, Durie 89.

Airdrie: Martin, Stewart, Jack (Evans 82), Sandison, Smith, Black, Moore (Johnston 23), Wilson, Cooper, McCann, McGrillen. Subs Not Used: Farrell. Booked: Sandison, McCann.

Referee: K Clark (Paisley).