DEILA DEMANDS PLAYERS SHOW RESTRAINT

RONNY DEILA last night admitted he is desperate to see the players, rather than the referee, decide the outcome of next weekend’s Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final.

The Celtic manager was left outraged at the same stage of the competition 12 months ago when his team succumbed to Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden.

The Parkhead club were so incensed by referee Steven McLean’s failure to award a penalty and send off Josh Meekings for a clear handball, they wrote to the SFA in order to gain an ‘understanding’ of the official’s decisions.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon was red carded as the Highlanders secured an unlikely 3-2 extra-time triumph to deny Deila the chance of securing a domestic Treble.

It was a similar story in the last four of the League Cup in January with Celtic aggrieved at the dismissal of Efe Ambrose during the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Ross County.

Deila said: ‘It is a big, big occasion. It’s the semi-final of the Scottish Cup and we are determined to do something different than last year.

‘I felt in that game we deserved more. This is a good opportunity to bounce back.

‘I hope it is decided on the football. That is what we want.

‘I felt terrible last year after the game. Now we are putting ourselves in a new situation and we have even more experience.

‘It’s the cup. Anything can happen. Not just in Scotland, but everywhere. It’s one game and small details can go with you or against you.

‘In our last three games at Hampden, you can see that can make a difference.’

Celtic have lost two of their last three Hampden semi-finals after being reduced to 10 men and while Deila takes issue with both dismissals, he has urged his players to show restraint against Rangers.

He said: ‘The players must show controlled aggression. That is hugely important for a game like this.’