The Ibrox factor will count for nothing if Dundee United play to their strengths, according to flying full-back Andy Robertson.
The Scotland international will hold an advantage over his Tannadice colleagues when they head to Rangers’ stadium to play their “neutral” Scottish Cup semi-final against the Light Blues on April 12.
For Robertson has recent experience of the controversial venue, having played there twice for former club Queen’s Park in the old Third Division last season.
On both occasions, the home side were backed by huge supports 49,500 for the October game then 46,000 at the February fixture and the Spiders lost out by 2-0 and 4-0 respectively.
However, Robertson knows the Tangerines will be a different story completely to the amateur outfit and is backing them to put all the furore over the selection of the stadium to one side and play their way to a final showdown against either St Johnstone or Aberdeen at Celtic Park on May 17.
“If we perform well then I think we can get to the final,” said Robertson.
“My own experience of Ibrox is that I really enjoyed playing there last season for Queen’s Park. The first time we went there was a bit daunting.
“We were top of the league at the time and there was a big crowd. It was a new experience for most of us but once the game started we settled down and enjoyed it.
“I think we had about 1,000 fans with us but they still gave us good backing. With United, though, it will be totally different because I think our fans will turn out in big numbers for this one.
“As a player you can’t let what’s happening in the stands affect your game and once you get going you can block the noise out.
“However, the more fans you take the better for these games because it is nice to walk out and see a lot of your own supporters in the stadium. It will give the lads a lift.”
Robertson won’t need any added incentive to beat Rangers but he revealed how watching the Scottish League Cup final last weekend did make him ponder what might be.
To see how much it meant to the Aberdeen players to lift that trophy hammered home just how close success in the nation’s premier knockout tournament could be.
“I watched the League Cup final and everyone knows it wasn’t the best game we’ve ever seen,” said Robertson.
“As long as you win on the day that’s all that matters. You saw how much they (the Dons players) celebrated it and how much their fans celebrated.
“Hopefully, we can experience that here at United as well.”
A wee shadow hanging over ever-present Robertson, though, is a suspension that he has collected for picking up too many yellow cards.
That will see him sit out the league game against Aberdeen on March 29 and he will have to fight to get his place back in time for Ibrox.
“I have picked up a few silly bookings so that’s something I need to iron out.
“I am going to miss a game now, which is disappointing because I’ve not missed any so far.
“It’s frustrating because you want to play every single match but suspensions are part of football and you just have to get on with it.”
Robertson is eligible to face Hearts on Friday night, however, and on the back of that thrilling comeback against St Mirren he is relishing the trip to Tynecastle.
“As regards the St Mirren game, with 10 minutes to go nobody thought we would win so we we’re delighted to get the three points,” he added.
“We hadn’t played well.
“We were shocking, in fact. It was really bad. But I think we proved we have the spirit to battle through and win games when we are not at our best.
“It was a massive result for us and we’re looking forward to Hearts now, although we want to play much better than we did last weekend.”