Police have a quiet word with the players

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP FINAL: Celtic v Rangers:ALLY McCOIST has said he has no problem with police officers warning Rangers players over their on-field responsibilities in the build-up to tomorrow's League Cup final against Celtic.

Representatives from Strathclyde police spoke to the Rangers and Celtic squads yesterday, as one consequence of their fiery encounter this month.

On that occasion, Rangers had three men sent off and McCoist, the assistant manager, had a touchline bust-up with Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

"They (the police) had a wee chat with the boys in a relaxed manner," said McCoist. "The chief superintendent spoke and it was fine. It is something I can recall happening on occasion when I was a player. I think they came in the dressingroom once or twice.

"Listen, the police are great. They have a job to do around Old Firm games and they appreciate the importance the football has for everybody."

McCoist also denied there would be any issue between himself and Lennon, who will be consigned to the Hampden Park stand as he continues to serve a touchline ban.

"It has not lingered - not at all," McCoist added. "It was done and dusted when I left the coaches' room at Celtic Park late that Wednesday night.

"I can't speak for Neil but, knowing Neil, I would imagine he feels the exact same. There are no problems at all."

Georgios Samaras believes Old Firm passions pale in to insignificance in comparison to derby games in his native Greece.

The 26-year-old Celtic striker yesterday signed a new three-year deal to keep him at the Parkhead club until 2014 yesterday.

Samaras was surprised by the furore and fall-out which followed the last Old Firm game.

"To be honest I was surprised by the reaction because from my point of view it was not so big a deal. It was just the passion of the Old Firm game.

"It is a passionate game and sometimes it comes out, it is normal, we are human and have emotions. I have seen much worse things in Greece that cannot be compared to here in Glasgow.

"It would require a long conversation to tell you about it. I can't explain in a couple of minutes, but the police and government get involved plenty of times. They try to put things in order but I don't know if they can.

"I don't know how politics can help in football.

"In Greece there are too many people who don't have a clue about football; here you have the right people to handle things and they are fair with everyone. But we will do everything we can to co-operate."

Scott Brown and Mark Wilson return from suspension for Celtic. Both missed the Scottish Cup win at Inverness at midweek but are likely to go straight back in.

Defender Daniel Majstorovic is still out with fractured toe on his right foot.

Rangers' Kyle Bartley is out with a knee injury. Kyle Lafferty (knee) and Vladimir Weiss (foot) are doubtful, but Nikica Jelavic returns.

Neil Alexander is expected to start in goal while Richard Foster is cup-tied.

Weekend's fixtures

Today

(all matches 3pm unless stated)

English Premier League - Aston Villa v Wolverhampton; Blackburn v Blackpool; Everton v Fulham, 5.30pm; Manchester Utd v Bolton; Stoke v Newcastle; Tottenham v West Ham Utd, 12.45pm; West Brom v Arsenal; Wigan v Birmingham.

English Championship - Barnsley v Reading; Bristol City v Burnley; Crystal Palace v Derby; Doncaster v QPR; Hull v Norwich; Ipswich v Scunthorpe; Leicester v Portsmouth; Middlesbrough v Watford; Millwall v Cardiff; Preston v Coventry; Sheffield Utd v Leeds, 1pm; Swansea v Nottingham Forest. League One - Brentford v Leyton Orient; Carlisle v Bournemouth; Dag & Red v Charlton; Exeter v Yeovil; Huddersfield v Swindon; Notts County v Bristol Rovers; Oldham v Brighton; Plymouth v Rochdale; Southampton v Sheffield Wednesday, 5.20pm; Tranmere v Colchester; Walsall v Hartlepool. League Two - Accrington Stanley v Port Vale; Aldershot v Stockport; Barnet v Morecambe; Bradford v Northampton; Burton Albion v Gillingham; Bury v Cheltenham; Macclesfield v Torquay; Oxford Utd v Crewe; Shrewsbury v Wycombe; Stevenage v Lincoln City.

Scottish Premier League - Dundee Utd v Inverness CT; Hamilton v St Johnstone; Hearts v St Mirren; Kilmarnock v Motherwell, noon. First Division - Dunfermline v Stirling; Falkirk v Dundee; Morton v Raith; Partick v Cowdenbeath; Ross County v Queen of South.

Irish Premiership - Ballymena v Glentoran; Crusaders v Cliftonville; Donegal Celtic v Newry; Glenavon v Coleraine; Linfield v Lisburn Distillery; Portadown v Dungannon Swifts. Division One - Ards v Ballyclare; Ballinamallard Utd v Banbridge Town; Dergview v Bangor; Glebe Rangers v Carrick; Larne v Institute; Limavady v H & W Welders; Loughgall v Ballymoney Utd.

League of Ireland - Longford Town v Mervue Utd; Salthill Devon v Athlone Town.

Spanish La Liga - Real Mallorca v Real Zaragoza, 5pm; Barcelona v Getafe, 7pm; Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid, 9pm.

Italy Serie A - Lazio v Cesena, 5pm; Palermo v AC Milan, 7.45pm.

Tomorrow

English Premier League - Chelsea v Man City, 4pm; Sunderland v Liverpool, 1.30pm.

Scottish League Cup Final - Celtic v Rangers, 3pm.

Spanish La Liga (4pm Irish unless stated) - Deportivo La Coruna v Levante; Hercules v Osasuna; Malaga v Espanyol; Racing Santander v Real Sociedad; Sporting Gijon v Almeria; Athletic Bilbao v Villarreal, 6pm; Valencia v Sevilla, 8pm.

Italy Serie A (2pm Irish unless stated) - Fiorentina v Roma, 11.30am; Bari v Chievo; Bologna v Genoa; Inter Milan v Lecce; Juventus v Brescia; Sampdoria v Parma; Udinese v Catania; Napoli v Cagliari, 7.45pm.