HARRY FORRESTER put Brentford on the brink of an FA Cup fairy tale as the Bees nearly stung Chelsea almost three years to the day. Now the Rangers forward is determined to avoid being on the wrong end of a Scottish Cup shock when Kilmarnock make the trip to Ibrox this afternoon.

Forrester lined up against the likes of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard as Uwe Rosler’s side came within minutes of knocking the Blues out in the fourth round in February 2013. With 17 minutes remaining at Griffin Park, he capped a man of the match performance by converting from the spot to put the Bees 2-1 up.

The then League One outfit couldn’t hold on, though, Fernando Torres saving Rafa Benitez’s side and taking the tie to a replay, which Chelsea won 4-0.

As he sat down to look ahead to the visit of Kilmarnock today, Forrester took a trip down memory lane as he recalled the magic of the cup.

“I don’t have many FA Cup tales,” Forrester said. “But I played against Chelsea when I was at Brentford. We drew 2-2 at home but then got pumped away at Stamford Bridge. It was still a good day out for the fans.

“We were twice ahead in the first game and I scored the penalty to put us 2-1 up. But then Torres scored in the 83rd minute and that killed us a little bit. Their quality told in the end.

“Ross Turnbull was in goal for Chelsea that day. Funnily enough he joined me at Doncaster later on. I battered him a few times about that penalty, to be honest. I was Brentford’s penalty taker at the time. You don’t often get the chance to score against Chelsea so I wasn’t about to shy away from it. Luckily, I managed to scramble it into the bottom corner.

“They had a strong team out. Mata, Torres, Oscar – Ivanovic was the right back. I think Frank Lampard played as well.

“The first game was really good because it was a full house at home. But the replay was really just an occasion for the fans. It ended up 4-0. Chelsea didn’t score until just after half-time but the floodgates opened.”

While the build-up to the fifth round tie has been dominated by the return of former Rangers players Lee McCulloch, Steven Smith and Kris Boyd, Forrester will also line up against his one-time employers at lunchtime.

The winger made eight appearances for Killie during a loan spell at Rugby Park in 2010 and admits the experience north of the border stood him in good stead in his formative years.

“You’ve got to adapt, take it all in and learn what you can,” Forrester said. “It toughens you up a bit. You are moving to a different country where you don’t know any people. You need to prove yourself to your new teammates and prove you can handle the men’s game.

“Reserve football is good but it’s not as physical as the men’s game where livelihoods are on the line. You’ve got to get results. It took me a few weeks but that’s what learning is all about. It’s a bit of a shock to the system at first but you get there.

“I’ve been at a few clubs since I left Killie and I’d like to think I’ve not hit my potential yet.

“I should be getting there though. Coming here was a good chance for me, working with the gaffer at a club on the up. Hopefully we will get promotion and can go far in the cup. It’s great to be part of a club with a winning mentality.”

If Forrester can help Rangers go all the way and add a Scottish Cup medal to the Championship prize that they covet this term, it would help his chances of still being at Ibrox next season. The former England youth international has until the end of the campaign to impress Warburton and win an extension to his short-term Light Blues deal.

“I’ve loved every minute,” Forrester said. “I’ve started to get game time - which I’ve not had in the last couple of months - and it was good to get half an hour the other day. I’ll take it week by week, game by game. I’m in no rush. When the time is right I will be called in for a chat.

“It’s early days, I’ve only been here a few months and I’m just starting to get a feeling for the place. I’ve got to know the lads pretty well, but there’s no rush.”

*Rangers take on Kilmarnock in the 5th round of the William Hill Scottish Cup at Ibrox today and supporters can pay at the gate in the Copland Rear right up until 12.30pm kick-off. Ticket prices are £19 for adults, £14 for concessions and £6 for kids.