Christian Dailly has praised Neil Alexander for his penalty save heroics that has kept Rangers on course for a dramatic Quadruple success this season.

Rangers had a nervy penalty shoot-out to endure in order to force their way past First Division St Johnstone and into the final of the Scottish Cup, where they will meet Queen of the South next month.

Alexander has had to wait in the wings since signing for the Ibrox side in January, but his penalty shoot-out saves from Steven Milne and Jody Morris booked Rangers' place at Hampden on May 24 and Dailly has applauded the keeper's courage.

Allan McGregor has been the hero of the Rangers' support the season with some outstanding performances, most notably in the CIS Insurance Cup Final, but Alexander showed he is equally capable of stepping up to the plate.

"I was really pleased for him because he works extremely hard in training and he has to wait his time and be patient," said the Scotland international.

"But all the players that are at the club just now are like that. I came in and had to sit and wait a few weeks before getting into the team and the players here are happy to do that because they know that are some point they are going to be called upon.

"Neil has worked so much and I knew already that he was a great goalie and he's a great understudy.

"I felt for Allan that he was injured and missed the game because he has put so much into the season. But from Neil's point of view it's great because this will help him to bed into the side right away.

"The penalty saves will have given him a massive boost in terms of confidence and, because he hasn't been playing regularly for a couple of months, I'm sure it will do his morale no harm at all."