Rangers await news of Burke's and Naismith's injuries

Ally McCoist heaped praise on the opposition after Rangers' penalty kicks win over St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

"If anybody is to take credit for today's game it's St Johnstone," said the Rangers assistant manager.

"I thought they were terrific, and I genuinely feel sympathy for them being knocked out on penalites."

"I'm really disappointed with the way we've performed, but thrilled that we're through to the final."

A much-changed Rangers side was taken the full distance by their First Division opponents.

And manager Walter Smith's pre-match plans were disrupted by two injuries in the first 20 minutes.

Chris Burke was stretchered off with an ankle injury, and Steven Naismith left the field with a damaged knee.

"That set us back massively," said McCoist.

And the former striker partly blamed the Hampden surface. "The pitch was probably as poor as we were," he said.

"And the injuries sustained were a lot down to the fact that the it was so hard and bumpy."