In fiery Hampden Park showdown
inside the box was waved away by referee Collum.
There was no surprise when Edouard replaced Lewis Morgan in the 58th minute and his impact was immediate.
The French striker was chopped down by Goldson and Christie’s free-kick from the left was steered in by Jullien, although there was a suggestion of offside.
Four minutes later, amid the bedlam, Morelos had the chance to break his Old Firm scoring duck when he was hauled to the ground by Frimpong, the 18-year-old Dutch defender sent packing before the Rangers striker saw his penalty parried away by Forster.
Celtic had the chance to double their lead in the 69th minute when Edouard set up Johnston on the break but with only Rangers keeper Allan McGregor to beat he took a poor touch, forcing him to lose his footing and shoot wide, wasting a golden opportunity.
The final moments were frantic and there was another Rangers penalty claim turned down when Johnston jumped with Morelos but Lennon’s side survived to create another record and leave Rangers wondering what they have to do to end the Hoops’ hegemony.
IT will forever be remembered as the Fraser Forster final, when Celtic claimed ten-ina-row.
Across a recent era, a domestic set of trophies now into double figures, how the Glasgow giants relished this surprising, hollowed-out success. Against a Rangers side, occasionally brilliant, but when the moment arrived, stunned with a searing blow of unfairness.
Their mental frailty with the consequences of a seriously questionable Christopher Jullien winner, is a wider existential matter for everyone at Ibrox to consider in the coming days.
Unlike their ancient foes, Rangers still miss those subtle, fine shards of ingenuity when it counts. Grandstanding Celtic goalkeeper Forster was a wall of impregnability in a duel with Alfredo Morelos who cannot comprehend his chastening fortunes against Celtic. A sequence of opportunities — including a penalty — blown.
Celtic now enjoy the fruits of their gritty 1-0 victory and a 19th League Cup. The constantly-improving Parkhead club under Neil Lennon does not countenance losing, especially on days like this at rain-lashed Hampden. They even seem to prevail when their only proven striker, Odsonne Edouard, starts a cup final on the bench, due to fitness issues. Somewhere around here, lies slivers of difference between these teams.
Rangers impressively dislodged Celtic’s momentum, particularly in the first half, leaving the Hoops hustling for scraps.
Forster’s superb save from a 25-yard Ryan Jack pile-driver and a litany of Morelos’ (right) efforts were major hints of the Light Blues’ appetite. In view of this, and Forster’s sensational display apart, have Celtic ever won a final in such exacting circumstances?
For almost an hour, they were all over the place, failing to address the basics. James Forrest, the consistent essence of the treble winners’ dynamic, peripheral. Even Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie struggled to construct anything remotely plausible.
Morelos can confidently net for Colombia, but was aghast at Forster’s authority, yet the cup holders could eventually summon the touch of Edouard, who gave the Hoops a presence rally to when under duress.
Incredibly, lift-off came via Jullien who put Celtic ahead, against the run of play. The £8m defender looked to be marginally offside and arguments for VAR to be introduced in Scotland will probably gather pace.
Gerrard confirmed afterwards that Morelos, rather than captain James Tavernier, was the nominated penalty taker for the final.
The Colombian missed the spot-kick and with Jeremie Frimpong sent off, Celtic galvanised, as tenman sides — never mind this extraordinarily resilient one — often do.
There was too much to hold for the re-energised Scottish champions, soaking up a fading midfield opposition, still full of disbelief, to give it away.
Meanwhile, the mentality of Steven Gerrard’s side, looking ahead, has to be questioned for the second time in a matter of days after throwing away a two-goal lead just days ago at Aberdeen.
Of course, players can always feel hard done by, but the mentally tough invariably find a key response to the discriminatory nature of unjust incidents.
Celtic continue to largely execute authority irrespective of whatever wrong-doing, unlike Rangers.
By the time it appeared that Morelos was resigned to a blank fate, you instinctively sensed the Ibrox men lacked answers; an issue that may even store up difficulties in the context of a sustained title challenge.
Results, by any contrived means, need to emulate performances for Rangers.
Like any all-conquering team, Celtic, meanwhile, will savour an almost perverse satisfaction at having retained the cup when under so much pressure from a rival that almost has them for the taking.
A hastily reconfigured performance, in comparison to other distinguished days, Lennon’s work was nevertheless done.
“I don’t know how they do it,” said the manager of his intrepid squad.
“We were fortunate today I admit that, but we are talking ten major trophies in a row.”
The Northern Irishman will embrace this, a first League Cup in charge and, indeed, the first Celtic outfit to win the trophy on four successive occasions since Jock Stein.
In the drained, dizzy aftermath, Lennon suggested this was a clash in isolation which will have no bearing on the title race.
At Celtic Park on December 29, we will discover if Rangers have learned that excellence doesn’t always equal conviction.