IT’S been a turbulent week at Celtic but they’ve ended it on a high by beating Rangers to book their place in the Premier Sports Cup final.
Brendan Rodgers‘ resignation on Monday and Dermot Desmond’s statement SLAUGHTERING the former manager shook the club to its core.
But they put that trauma behind them to get back to winning ways in the league, putting four past Falkirk on Wednesday night.
And with Martin O’Neill back in temporary charge, they followed that up with this thrilling extra-time victory over 10-man Rangers in the League Cup semi-final.
Johnny Kenny, Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand got the goals but there were strong performers right through the side.
Rangers had coped with the loss of Thelo Aasgaard to a red card in the first half to take the tie beyond the 90 minutes thanks to James Tavernier‘s penalty.
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But they had no answer in extra-time as Celtic scored twice to set up a meeting with St Mirren in the final on December 14.
SunSport’s Kenny MacDonald and Derek McGregor ran their eye over both teams at Hampden and have given their verdicts on every player who took to the field.
CELTIC
Kasper Schmeichel
Turns 39 on Wednesday but showed agility of a youngster to deny Raskin one-on-one. Good distribution. Save from Chermiti. Well beaten at penalty. Great stops from Gassama and Miovski…8
Tony Ralston
Steady-Eddy right-back who often doesn’t get credit he deserves. Victim of shocking Aasgaard high boot. His handball for Gers penalty. Had been booked and lucky not to get another. But sound show…7
Marcelo Saracchi
He’s played for Boca Juniors against River Plate so this was never going to faze him. Competed strongly, got Hoops up park too with some terrific runs. Crocked and subbed…7
Auston Trusty
Just third start of season. Should’ve been shown a straight red before break for dreadful hanging boot into Butland’s head. Committed too early before penalty award. Strong defending. Cramp victim…7
Liam Scales
Confident performer, bringing ball out frequently and looking for forward pass. Relishes physical side too. Fantastically timed tackle on Gassama when a goal looked certain. Towering display…8
Callum McGregor
Got the message several times from Gers midfielders but was aggressive enough himself in pressing. Kept his passing simple, but effective. Left foot screamer. Huge captain performance. Booked…9
Arne Engels
Belgian needed a big game after being underwhelming for long enough and was good first half. Excellent delivery for Kenny header. Plenty of dig too. Shot wide. Booked…8
Benjamin Nygren
Six goals for the Hoops going into this and he could easily have had another, shooting wide first half. Decent craft. Forced good Butland stop but wasted big chance second half. Subbed…6
Johnny Kenny
Looked the part as Celtic’s main striker. Full of running and intent. Brilliantly timed run, glancing header for goal. Showed good strength too in holding up, linking. Subbed…7
Sebastian Tounekti
Derby debut and he was quickly in the thick of it to good effect with the beating of Tavernier. Blasted over from 15-yards. Always a threat. Surprisingly subbed 66 minutes…6
Daizen Maeda
Wide right and his running troubled Meghoma from start. Powerful right foot shot saved by Butland. VAR offside for freak goal. Booked for high boot on Diomande. Subbed extra time…7
SUBS:
James Forrest (6) introduced with 25 left. Rattled crossbar, also blasted over; Callum Osmand (8) just his second pro game. Sensational impact. Butland denied him three times, header wide, then netted. Booked; Reo Hatate (4) replaced Nygren, shot saved, great chance blown; Kieran Tierney (5) replaced Saracchi. Great assist for Osmand; Michel-Ange Balikwisha (2) dying minutes.
RANGERS
Jack Butland
First-half saves from Maeda and Kenny kept his side in the semi-final then good second-half stops from Nygren, Ralston and Osmand. Full-length stop from Osmand in extra-time. Excellent…7
Nasser Djiga
Loan defender got a break when his clearance cannoned off Raskin into the net but goal was chalked off for offside. His hesitancy allowed Kenny an opening but overall did okay…6
John Souttar
Solid but unspectacular at the heart of defence but crucially was in Butland’s line of sight at key McGregor strike. Looked completely exhausted in extra-time. Booked…6
Derek Cornelius
Old Firm debutant was booked for early foul on Kenny but stayed composed after that and dealt with the frantic nature of the occasion well…6
James Tavernier
Constantly tried to drive his side forward then was decisive with important spot-kick that got his side back on level terms. Played a real captain’s part…7
Mohamed Diomande
Set Chermiti up for a great first-half chance with fine pass, had second-half drive charged down then sent an effort wide. Rangers’ best midfielder, surprisingly subbed…7
Nico Raskin
Had good first-half chance but denied by Schmeichel. Busy display but didn’t really influence the game. Booked, subbed at start of extra-time and had to be ushered up tunnel in a fury at time-up…6
Thelo Aasgaard
Early shot saved by Schmeichel and showed some nice touches but Norwegian’s crazy high boot on Ralston ended his day before the interval and left his side with massive task…3
Jayden Meghoma
Kenny got the run on him at Celtic opener but used his pace to good effect to counter Celtic subs Forrest and Osmand and grew into the game…6
Youssef Chermiti
Side-footed Rangers’ best first-chance wide of the target with goal gaping then failed to make contact from Tavernier cross soon after. Continued to look a long way short of quality required. Subbed…4
Danilo
Played in behind Chermiti and though one terrific first-half pass set Raskin through on goal, didn’t look comfortable in the role and it was no surprise when he was hooked at the break…5
SUBS:
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Djeidi Gassama (6) Denied by Scales’ challenge, then drive led to penalty before being denied by Schmeichel in extra-time; Mikey Moore (6) Pass sent Gassama through, always a threat 6; Bojan Miovski (3) very little impact 3; Max Aarons (5) blistering extra-time run 5; Oliver Antman (4) no contribution 4; Joe Rothwell (2) no impression.
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