Celtic cruise past Rangers

GLASGOW: Celtic cruised into the Scottish League Cup final with a comfortable 2-0 victory over rivals Rangers in the first Old Firm derby in nearly three years.

It wasn’t the record rout that many predicted before the match, but it was an entirely uneven contest with the Scottish Premiership leaders lauding it over their city rivals to claim victory in the 400th competitive outing of one of the world’s fiercest rivalries.

Leigh Griffiths headed home the opener after just 10 minutes and Kris Commons, one of four Celtic players in the starting 11 who had featured in the fixture previously, rifled home a second in the 31st minute as the Hoops threatened to run riot.

The Celtic supporters smelt blood but their side failed to go for the jugular as they seemed content to play within themselves in the second half as Rangers failed to test ‘ keeper Craig Gordon.

Celtic will now face Dundee United in the final on March 15 while Rangers, who are still plagued by financial problems and boardroom battles, will refocus their attention on trying to catch Hearts in the race for the Scottish Championship.

“I think 2-0 was a fair result,” Celtic manager Ronny Deila said. “In the first half we had four chances and we scored two which was okay. The second half we didn’t have many but they didn’t have a shot on target either. “It was a very good day. There was an unbelievable atmosphere in the stadium and the players were unbelievably focussed and performed very well so I’m proud of the boys.” Rangers caretaker manager Kenny McDowall was disappointed with the manner of the goals his side conceded.

“We were set up to try and keep it tight early on in the game so to lose a goal like that threw a spanner in the works and unsettled people,” McDowall said.

“It made the first half sticky and difficult. I thought we did far better in the second half but just couldn’t get the goal to make it interesting.”

The match at Hampden was the first meeting of the Old Firm since April 2012 with Rangers subsequently forced to start life again in the country’s bottom tier following liquidation in June 2012.

The match, which was televised live in 54 countries around the world, had been keenly anticipated by supporters of both clubs but the atmosphere around the stadium prior to kick-off was strangely subdued, as if the fans had forgotten what to do in the absence of the fixture.

However, the noise levels were soon cranked up as the teams emerged, with the Celtic fans goading their rivals throughout the match with chants of ‘You’re not Rangers anymore’ in reference to the controversial and divisive debate over whether the Ibrox side are a new club following liquidation three years ago.

Both sets of players showed signs of nervousness in the opening exchanges as they tried to get to grips with the pace and the churned up Hampden pitch.

As expected Celtic looked more comfortable in their surroundings and opened the scoring with their first effort on target in the 10th minute. Johansen sent a dangerous delivery to the back post where Griffiths popped up between Richard Forster and Darren McGregor to send a header looping over the helpless Steve Simonsen in goal.

Griffiths had a chance to repeat his feat minutes later when he was given time and space in the box again but this time he glanced his header from Mikel Lustig’s cross wide.

A slack back-pass from Fraser Aird then allowed Stokes to dispossess Forster and hit a fierce strike that dipped just over the bar.

A second goal seemed inevitable and it came from the left boot of Commons in the 31st minute. Scott Brown’s surging run forward was stopped by Nicky Law’s tackle but the ball trickled to Commons who took a touch before unleashing a superb strike into the top left-hand corner.

angers then had Simonsen to thank as his outstretched leg kept Johansen’s close range shot from adding to their misery.

The Gers brought on Jon Daly at the break to partner Kenny Miller up front but it Celtic who once again threatened first with Commons stinging the palms of Simonsen with a long-range strike that the ‘keeper gathered at the second attempt.

A rare Rangers attack saw Law narrowly failing to get on the end of a Miller cross before Lee Wallace’s lazy chipped effort sailed over the bar as the second half fizzled out. —AFP