You can never take a victory for granted – that’s why the Dons can’t be written off
I WAS fortunate enough to play in six consecutive League Cup Finals for Celtic, from 1971 through to 1976.
But, unfortunately, we won only once and that was against Hibs in season 74-75 when Dixie Deans scored a hat-trick in a 6-3 victory.
The defeats came against Par tick Thistle, Hibs, Rangers, Dundee and Aberdeen. I scored against the Hibees and the Dons, but it wasn’t enough.
Losing 4-1 to the Jags was the result that surprised me most. I also got on the scoresheet that afternoon but we were already 4- 0 down. Thistle had a blistering start to the game and we never recovered.
We were heavy favourites going into that game and rightly so. However, it just goes to show that you can never take victory for granted.
That’s why Aberdeen can’t be written off this afternoon in the Betfred League Cup Final against Celtic.
Yes, there are better players in the Hoops team and they have a much stronger squad. But there are no guarantees and the Celtic players will need to be right on it to win the game because Aberdeen have a great organisation about them and a great team spirit.
They also have a fine manager in Derek McInnes and he has been doing a really good job for more than three years.
They won the Cup a couple of seasons ago when they defeated Inverness on penalties and it was their first piece of major silverware in 20 years.
The whole city got a tremendous lift from that success and they will want a repeat.
When Derek took over from Craig Brown I thought he’d be a good appointment, and the people in charge at Aberdeen also deserve credit for identifying him and allowing him to get on with his work. They’ve all reaped the rewards and it’s been mutually beneficial.
But they know that it will take an unbelievable performance to win this one.
There is also an added incentive for Celtic, in that if they win it will be the 100th major trophy won by the club. What an incredible achievement that would be.
Regardless of the opposition or era, to win that many is just brilliant.
Like so many other players and managers, I’ve made a small contribution to that tally. Indeed, the last trophy I won with Celtic was as caretaker manager back in 2000 when we beat Aberdeen 2-0 in the League Cup Final.
We scored through goals from VidarRiset hand Tommy Johnson.
It wasn’ t the most exhilarating 90 minutes, but it was vital for the club to win that day.
Because of what had happened to John Barnes a couple of months earlier when he lost his job, it was important to show the club was heading back in the right direction.
I enjoyed that victory, as I’ m sure every Celtic supporter did, from the youngest fan to the most senior board member.
I also felt it was important for John to receive recognition for that achievement. I felt so sorry for him when he lost his job.
He started ever so brightly and broke records held by Jock Stein. He wanted to play flamboyant football and some of the early performances were brilliant to watch.
But the team just couldn’t keep it going and losing Henrik Larsson to a broken leg was a huge blow. In the end, the defeat to Inverness in the Scottish Cup finished it off.
It just goes to show that there is a big expectation at Celtic – and rightly so.
If you don’t reach the heights expected then you do not stay there.
But it’s also about how people in charge of the club respond to certain situations.
So, Brendan Rodgers and his players will want to make sure they get the first piece of silverware in the cabinet. But they will be aware not to take anything for granted.
The only thing for certain is that, come, there will have been a winning team and a losing team.
Logic tells you it will be Celtic celebrating but with it being a one-off game it only takes a silly red card in the first minute or a penalty conceded and you are up against it.
Aberdeen will not lie down but 99% of people will back Celtic to emerge victorious.
I just hope both sides entertain and give us a Final to remember.