RANGERS' B Team manager David McCallum insists his team showed great character and resilience as they twice recovered from going a goal down to Celtic by ultimately triumphing via a penalty shoot-out.

The two rivals faced each other in the semi-finals of the Glasgow Cup, where the Colts teams made up the bulk of each squad, while defender Christopher Jullien and winger Mikey Johnston were also involved for Celtic.

Rangers found themselves a goal behind at Auchenhowie early on before Ross McAusland restored parity with a fine strike just after the half-hour mark. It wasn't long before Celtic found themselves leading once again through Ben Summers before Cole McKinnon drew his side level with around 15 minutes to go.

The cup tie then went to penalties, where the young Rangers side eventually won 5-4. Celtic's Ben Wiley was the only player who didn't score his spot-kick.

The result sends McCallum's young guns through to the final and the Colts boss insists he is delighted with the nature of his team's victory over their rivals.

"It was an interesting game, that’s for sure," McCallum told Rangers TV. "The word that comes to mind is ‘character’.

"We went behind twice and took the game to penalties and stood up well to go and deal with that and try to perform the right way.

"The setbacks show the players in a good light and the team in a good light. It’s frustrating to go behind twice – I don’t think we started the game as well as we would have liked to.

"In the first two-thirds of the pitch we were pretty comfortable but we didn’t ask enough questions in attack. That started to improve as we got closer to half-time.

"I thought the first equalising goal was outstanding. The way we worked it from right to left and the volley from Ross at the edge of the box was a sensational finish.

"The second one was probably equally as good but in a different way. Charlie McCann has lifted the ball in and Cole has made an excellent run into the space, took a great touch and lifted it beyond the goalkeeper – at a time where the game was getting a little bit away from us.

"But that’s back to the character and the resilience that the lads showed throughout the game. I’m delighted that they have put in a performance and got a result that gets us into the final."

McCallum continued: "In these types of games, they have stood up really, really well. We’ve had to adapt and adjust at different points – today we slightly changed how we pressed at half-time because we felt there were ways of getting more pressure higher up the pitch.

"They’re adaptable and resilient. We have had some bumps along the way and a little bit of frustration within the group – and rightly so. They know there have been one or two games where they haven’t performed as they would like to.

"But I’ll go back to it again – in these types of games, they have stood up to it and shown themselves in a good light. They thoroughly deserve to be in the final and we look forward to it when it comes along."

Celtic B manager Tommy McIntyre, meanwhile, cut a frustrated figure in the aftermath of the defeat.

“It’s a bit of a lottery, penalties, but you need to do it to win,” McIntyre told the club’s website. “I thought in the game itself we created the better chances and were in control.

“We just allowed them to get the equaliser at the end, so I’m disappointed because we created a lot of chances and when it goes to penalties it becomes a lottery.

“These are great games to be involved in. They’re not great when you don’t win them but the players need to learn as these are the ones you’re judged on.

“I’m pleased we created so many chances but you’ve got to take them.

“It’s more about the performance on the pitch and in periods we done well and in other periods we could have done better.”