Novo believes Old Firm loss will only fortify spirit for final assault

Spaniard says Parkhead defeat has galvanised Rangers

NACHO Novo insists the Old Firm defeat will only serve to make Rangers stronger in the final weeks of their epic campaign, starting with tomorrow's Scottish Cup semi-final clash against St Johnstone at Hampden.

The striker remains confident of title glory even though the 2-1 reverse at Parkhead on Wednesday saw Rangers' lead at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League trimmed to a single point, albeit with two games in hand.

Novo came off the bench to cancel out Shunsuke Nakamura's opener and had hoped his strike would all but kill off any hope of a third consecutive championship for Celtic, but the injury-time winner from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink blew the title race wide open instead.

Optimists within the Celtic camp may believe they now boast the psychological edge, with another Old Firm tussle to look forward to at Celtic Park in eight days' time, but Novo disagrees.

"It's the first game we have lost in six months but everyone here is strong and this makes us even stronger now," he said.

"It's different if you have lost more games but we haven't lost for six months and I guarantee you that the team will be much stronger. We believe we will go the distance.

"The most important thing for us is to keep going, work hard, and think of the semi-final. The Old Firm game is finished, it's history. We have to go on and try to win games. We still have two games in hand and if we win every game we are champions.

"We don't like to think that everything is done – we like to think game to game.

"For me, the most important thing is Sunday's game which will be a tough game against a good side.

"I hope the side will be together and fight for each other and I'm sure we will be stronger after what happened.

"I'm only thinking about my team and as long as my team-mates have a good mentality that's the main thing."

Next up is tomorrow's clash against St Johnstone, followed by the home leg of their Uefa Cup semi-final against Fiorentina on Thursday, before Rangers finally have another crack at Celtic.

"Obviously it will be tough but the most important thing is mentality – if you have a strong mentality you will not see any tiredness," said Novo.

"When you win, it takes the tiredness away and I'm confident all the boys will have a strong mentality."

Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist backed Novo's assessment the players will be determined to bounce back stronger after the disappointment of suffering their first SPL defeat since October. "Without doubt," said McCoist. "Sometimes there are defining results in a season that can go for you or against you.

"I think that result will definitely make us stronger because the other option isn't an option to be honest.

"It's a different challenge in that we haven't had that challenge for a while, but it's not something that's new to us because we had defeats earlier in the league campaign.

"It's something we have reacted to positively before and we will react very positively again."

McCoist is now relishing the opportunity to pit his wits against former Rangers team-mate Derek McInnes, now manager at St Johnstone.

"There's nothing we can do about the Celtic game and there is no use worrying about things you can't affect," he said. "So, with that in mind, we are not interested in the league at the moment. No interest whatsoever.

"We are interested in the Scottish Cup semi-final at the weekend against my old team and my old team-mate. It's going to be a great occasion and I'm really looking forward to it."

Paying tribute to the role played by McInnes, McCoist, who started his career at St Johnstone and learned his trade at the old Muirton Park, added: "Derek has done a superb job. And to be fair to Del he'll know he's done well, he doesn't need me to tell him.

"There's no one happier than me to see him doing well but I knew he'd be a success in management.

"You get guys in your career who you know will go into coaching and management and I had that feeling about Derek.

"He's maybe surprised that it's come along so early for him but his team have done really well.

"He's been about, he has a good knowledge of the game and he's made a couple of good signings like Jody Morris. I don't doubt that Derek will want to break our hearts and a little bit of his own heart on Sunday."

"I can't speak for Derek but I'm sure he's not surprised to see me in coaching. I'm maybe a bit surprised that I'm sitting here myself but it's been great, I've loved every minute of it.

"I dreamed about doing this job and I'm very fortunate.

"I've had a fantastic year, it's been a real rollercoaster.

"We've had some great highs like winning the cup, the European run and then there's the lows.

"Wednesday night was a low. But I think that's all part of the learning curve. Once they cross the line there's not a lot I can do about it. I think that's what I've learned the most."

• Rangers' Uefa Cup semi-final opponents Fiorentina are in Serie A action this evening at home to Palermo, looking for the points that will reinforce their position in fourth spot which brings with it a Champions League qualification berth for next season.