FOOTBALL fans are being urged to be on their best behaviour at Cappielow this weekend with a 9,000 sell-out crowd expected for Morton v Rangers.

Ton will host the Ibrox side in a competitive match at home for the first time in over 25 years and Sunday’s all-ticket fixture will also be screened live on TV.

With a large away support at the game and a bigger than normal home crowd, local police officers who will be in charge of the match are today urging fans to be prepared so that they can enjoy the spectacle hassle-free.

Their plea comes after crowd trouble in the Motherwell fans’ end at Cappielow on Tuesday night which resulted in the cup clash being halted for several minutes and extra police being sent in to defuse the situation.

Two officers were also injured in the melee, with two men arrested in connection with the violence.

As security preparations for Sunday’s game step up a gear, Rangers fans in particular have been warned that if they are found anywhere other than the away end of the stadium they will be removed immediately.

Inspector Kenny Morrison, who will be in command inside Cappielow on Sunday, told the Tele: “Everybody is looking forward to it, including ourselves, and it’s a great opportunity for the town with the support Rangers will bring. Around 9,000 people are expected and we want to make sure everybody is safe in the ground.

“It’s been a number of seasons since we had a full capacity at Cappielow and we are looking forward to having a safe, secure and hopefully entertaining event.However, the arrangements for matches that Morton fans are normally accustomed to will change ever so slightly.I would like to remind all spectators who are coming to the match to read their ticket and the conditions attached to purchasing that ticket.

“I’d also like to highlight that if any Rangers fans have bought tickets for any sections that are allocated Morton areas and they are identified as being Rangers fans then they will be ejected from the ground.” Inverclyde area commander Elliot Brown will be the man in charge of the overall policing operation, assisted by Inspector Morrison.

Insp Morrison said: “It’s one of the biggest matches in a number of years and it’s a huge day for Inverclyde.

“But Police Scotland is well experienced in policing football matches and Chief Inspector Brown and myself are regular match commanders with nearly 60 years of experience between us.” l Fans are reminded to turn up to Cappielow in plenty of time to get access to the stadium. Kick off is at 12.30pm on Sunday.