Edouard gave vital ‘spark’ to sluggish Celts

BRENDAN RODGERS gave thanks to Odsonne Edouard for providing the ‘spark’ that lifted Celtic into the last four of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Edouard, a half-time substitute for Scott Sinclair, inspired fellow French striker Moussa Dembele to two goals then helped himself to a last-minute strike for a deserved win against stubborn Morton.

Rodgers said: ‘Odsonne came on and made a huge difference.

‘I felt that those two occupied their back four really well

because they are both quick. Odsonne wants to run in behind but his link and hold-up play is really good. He had two good chances before he scored the goal.’

The victory kept Celtic’s push for back-to-back Trebles on track and put Edouard firmly in the frame for promotion to start against Rangers at Ibrox in a league showdown next Sunday.

‘It’s something I can consider (against Rangers),’ said the Celtic manager. ‘I’ve an idea of what we want to do if everyone’s fit next week but, certainly, he provided the spark the team needed here.

‘I thought he was very good. He’s a young player I rate highly. He can play in a number of positions. He has strength, power and threatens in behind.’

Dembele scored twice — a header and penalty — for the first time since October, with Edouard in support and Rodgers added: ‘Moussa has got that hunger back to score and, second half, like the rest of the team he was much better.

‘It was a good header, he gets himself free and into position for the cross and he has that composure. The link-up play was better and that combination play gets us the penalty.

‘He’s probably unfortunate in the second half where the ball wouldn’t quite sit for him to get his hat-trick. He is on form, he has shown his qualities and played very well.’

Rodgers was relieved for Dembele to make the breakthrough on 62 minutes then benefit from a fortunate spot-kick award for Celtic from referee John Beaton.

Replays showed that Dembele was clipped by Michael Doyle just outside the box for the foul.

‘It was a tricky tie, especially with the week we’ve had,’ said Rodgers. ‘Our lack of training time showed in the first half. We weren’t to our standard of pressing, intensity and creativity. But also give credit to Morton because they had good organisation and some good players in their team. They worked really well.

‘It was similar to last year when we were 1-0 down to St Mirren. These are always tough games, but we needed to change it at half-time to be better for the second half and have more control and intensity.

‘It’s never easy for the officials when they have to make that decision straightaway on the penalty. At the time, I thought it was a penalty but when you analyse it, we’re all experts when we watch it five times.

‘It was then a good penalty from Moussa. I’m pleased to get into the semi-final again.’

Morton boss Jim Duffy was pleased his players were able to keep the holders at bay for so long despite only managing half an hour of training in a snow blizzard since Tuesday night’s 1-0 loss to Livingston.

‘The goalie coach Davie Wylie got the shovels out and cleared a 20-yard area for us,’ he said. ‘It got us a touch of the ball but it was Baltic and the snow was blowing all over the place.

‘But we could have spent a week preparing for Celtic and they might still have won. Mentally, we were prepared and the players were ready for it.

‘I was delighted with most of the performance despite our mistakes for the goals. We started the game well and looked confident.

‘Celtic grew into it as you’d expect then changed their personnel and system in the second half.

‘They also changed their tempo and have umpteen players with class. That class told in the end.’