The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Celtic’s Scales pins hopes on fairytale end to the season
Liam Scales surveyed a potentially glorious end to Celtic’s season following their epic Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen on Saturday, but knows there is still plenty of work to do.
A dramatic 6-5 penalty shootout victory over the Dons at Hampden Park followed a 3-3 draw and it booked the Hoops a place in the May 25 final against Rangers, who defeated Hearts at the national stadium yesterday afternoon.
The Parkhead side are three points clear of their Old Firm rivals at the top of the cinch Premiership with five post-split fixtures remaining, one of which is the visit of Rangers to Celtic Park.
Scales acknowledged the importance of momentum going into the business end of the season.
“We are coming in strong to the last part of the season and that’s the way we like it and that’s the way we want it to be,” said the Irish defender.
“With five games left in the league we want to try and put that to bed and then deal with the cup.
“It probably won’t be that simple but that’s the plan.”
Scales, who signed from Shamrock Rovers in August 2021, was on loan at Aberdeen last season and there was speculation about him possibly signing a permanent deal with the Granite City club.
However, the Republic of Ireland international became a regular starter for Celtic this season under returning boss Brendan Rodgers and he is looking to continue on in the same manner.
“I really enjoyed my time at Aberdeen and it is a great club,” he said.
“To break into the team here is brilliant.
“I’m delighted how the season has gone. We just need to finish the season strong in our last five league games leading into the cup final.”
Scales described the semi-final as “mental” and it came to a crescendo in the penalty shootout when goalkeeper Joe Hart hit the post with Celtic’s fifth penalty but then saved from Killian Phillips to confirm the win.
Celtic recovered from Bojan Miovski’s early goal to lead through goals from Nicolas Kuhn and substitute James Forrest, before Dons substitute Ester Sokler levelled in the 90th minute.
Matt O’Riley fired Celtic ahead in extra-time but stand-in Dons captain Angus MacDonald made up for an earlier mistake that led to Celtic’s equaliser when he headed in the 119th minute.
Dons caretaker manager Peter Leven has urged his players to take confidence from their Hampden display and finally transfer their cup form into the league.
Aberdeen have now pushed both Rangers and Celtic to the end in the League Cup final and Scottish Cup last four, while putting in some impressive European displays.
But they remain mired in a battle against relegation in the cinch Premiership with Leven in his second stint as caretaker boss ahead of the summer arrival of Elfsborg manager Jimmy Thelin.
The Dons are only five points above secondbottom Ross County in the race to avoid a play-off, but host Motherwell and St Johnstone in the first two games after the split and have the chance to settle their supporters’ nerves.
Leven said: “The boys have responded well to me from the off. There’s always been desire here, but inconsistency has killed us in the league.
“In the cups, we’ve been fantastic and that was the case again. Now we need to transfer that to the league form.
“We need to try and get that winning mentality and take our chances when we’re on top. We had Celtic rattled, especially in the second half, but I’m just gutted for everyone.”