Adam Matthews says Rangers’ exit from this season’s Scottish Cup does not put any more pressure on his Celtic side to succeed in the competition.

The Welsh defender was present at Monday’s sixth round draw, which saw his team paired with the Ibrox club’s conquerors Dundee United in the last eight.

Celtic are now the bookmakers’ favourite to retain their trophy at Hampden in May.

Matthews though says the expectation to succeed in all competitions was already loaded on the team and insists Rangers’ exit has no bearing on their ambitions.

"When you are at a club like Celtic, there are expectations anyway," he said. "It doesn't matter if Rangers are in or out. The pressure is still there.

"It was there at the start of the cup and it's still there now.

"The players enjoy playing with that pressure and will be looking forward to the game."

The draw handed Celtic yet another away tie in the competition, with Neil Lennon’s side now having not been handed a home game since a win over Queen’s Park in 2009.

"The players are used to it now," Matthews said of the draw. "We've just got to go to Dundee and do the job.

"We would have liked a home draw because we've got great fans and I think we play best at home.

"But we have shown this season that we can go away to places and get key results and I'm sure we can do it again."

IN DETAIL

• Holders Celtic go to Dundee United in Scottish Cup quarter final