Carmichael relishing Ibrox challenge

Sep 18 2012 By Andrew Burns

DANNY Carmichael says Queen of the South are gunning for Ibrox glory tonight.

The Palmerston forward has impressed this season, with the high flying Doonhamers storming to seven wins out of eight.

Allan Johnston’s side will face their biggest test yet when they square up against Rangers in the last eight of the Ramsdens Cup.

Dumfries-born Carmichael insists confidence high in the squad and has warned that they won’t be at Ibrox just to make up the numbers.

"Playing at Ibrox in front of tens of thousands of fans will be a real career highlight for me," the 22-year-old said.

"This will actually be the first time I have ever been to Ibrox, nevermind having played there before.

"I am both excited and confident and I can’t wait to test myself up against the top players that Rangers have.

"A few of the lads in the squad spent time at Rangers and others have played in these big games before but this is a first for me.

"These are the games you want to be playing in but to be fair it won’t mean much if we lose.

"We are in good form and we will be going to Ibrox to play football and attack.

"There is a cup semi final at stake and I don’t think we will change out attacking style much – we are going there to win."

Queens are sitting pretty at the top of the Irn Bru Second Division, having won all but one league game so far this season.

The Dumfries men have scored 12 goals in their past three games, brushing aside Hibs, Arbroath and Ayr United, with only two in reply.

Johnston will be forced to change things for the Ibrox trip with Paul Burns cup-tied and Stephen McKenna suspended.

But Carmichael is positive that the Doonhamers have the strength in depth to cope in their absence.

He said: "We will go to Ibrox in good form and on the back of some great results.

"To start the season in the way we have, beating Morton, Hibs and Arbroath as well as others in the way we did, has actually been a bit surprising.

"It’s always a worry that after being relegated the team might struggle at first but we have been flying.

"It says a lot about hard we have all worked over the summer and what a good squad Allan and Sandy [Clark] have built.

"Everyone that has been involved has been playing well this season and that has been key.

"Confidence is high and we are all competing for the places in the team.

"I know that if I am not up to scratch then there are other forwards ready to take my place.

"It’s the same with Stephen and Burnsy tonight – there are other lads who will see this as the perfect opportunity to make a position their own."