Oh Û@!* Not Them Again

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Co-Operative Insurance Cup Special Killie Boss Swears Celts Tie Is The Draw From Hell

KILMARNOCK boss Jim Jefferies unleashed a foul-mouthed volley of abuse on assistant Billy Brown after landing the cup draw he didn't want.

But the Rugby Park gaffer swears his side can still KO Gordon Strachan's men and advance to the semi-finals.

Right-hand man Brown was present at yesterday's draw at Hampden and immediately got on his mobile to relay the news of Celtic's visit to his manager - who couldn't hide his disappointment. Brown, whose side beat Aberdeen 4-2 on Wednesday night to seal a last-eight spot in the Co-operative Insurance Cup, said: "I can't really say what Jim said! It's not the draw we wanted.

"This nonsense that you've got to play the Old Firm sometime doesn't work for me. We didn't want to play either of the Old Firm. But we've got Celtic now so we have to be positive."

Killie have a terrible record against Celtic, having not beaten them in the six-and-a-half years Jefferies and Brown have been at the helm, including Sunday's 3-1 SPL defeat in Ayrshire.

The aftermath of that game was a public slanging match between the clubs over Celtic's late penalty - controversially awarded after Shunsuke Nakamura went down - and the reaction of Killie defender Frazer Wright who appeared to clip the Japanese star around the head.

Brown insisted the incident was "history" and that he could understand his player's reaction. He said: "I didn't think Nakamura dived. I think he just lost his footing and the referee gave the decision.

"Obviously, Frazer was frustrated about what happened. I'm sure if it had happened at the other end Stephen McManus might have batted David Fernandez across the back of the head."

Brown is not expecting Sunday's incident - or the result - to have any bearing on next month's cup match and neither does he think his side will benefit if Celtic decide the competition is bottom of their list of priorities.

He said: "They want to win every game they take part in. They have a powerful pool, can change their team and bring in guys as good as those who are playing every week.

"I'm sure Gordon Strachan wants to win the League Cup, SPL, Scottish Cup and Champions League."

And there is no chance of Killie taking the game lightly. Brown said: "People say the League Cup's not a big tournament but it's certainly a big tournament to clubs like Kilmarnock.

"This is a chance to go on to win a trophy. We've got a big barrier in our way now but we're not going to approach it with any negative thoughts. We'll have a go at them."

Holders Rangers were handed a home tie against Hamilton, Falkirk host Inverness and Dundee United welcome Dunfermline.