Sub Edouard puts fire in Dembele as Celts see off Morton

The holders booked their place in today’s Scottish Cup semi-final draw with a win that was a mix of muscle, moxie and mosey.

For an hour, the possibility of a repeat of the visitors’ dramatic win in the League Cup of 2013 looked possible.

However, with half-time sub Odsonne Edouard sparking a fire in countryman Moussa Dembele, they powered through to start all sides thinking about the derby with Rangers a week today.

A derby in which the Paris Saint Germain loanee could now very well feature. “It’s something I can consider,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

“I have an idea of what we want to do if everyone’s fit next week, but certainly today he provided the spark the team needed.

“I thought he was very good. He’s a young player I rate highly, and can play in a number of positions.

“He has strength, power and threatens in behind. He’s quick, but he can link in behind as well.” Also possible, but less likely even with Mikael Lustig suspended, is that Marvin Compper will feature at Ibrox.

The £1 million signing from Red Bull Leipzig made his Hoops debut here and wasted no time before giving supporters and his coaching staff alike palpitations with a misplaced pass which almost let Morton in.

“Finally I played for Celtic – that was a nice feeling but the start was a little bumpy for me,” said the German defender.

“But we got the job done and are through to the next round – that was our goal.

“It took me a while, but I grew into the game after the first 15, 20 minutes and felt more comfortable the longer the game went.

“Obviously, the Rangers game is one everyone wants to play in. It is going to be very intense, a battle.

“I will do my best during the week, then it’s up to the gaffer to put me in.”

With Celtic completely flat in the first half, the suspicion grew that maybe, just maybe, a shock was on the cards.

Andy Murdoch, a former Rangers player now wearing the tartan of Morton, went just wide with a chip shot.

Celtic, though, are no strangers to grinding out wins and knew if they stuck to their game then sooner or later they would succeed in finding the piece of quality they needed to make the difference.

And once again they had Tom Rogic to thank, the Australian twisting and turning full-back Mark Russell to earn himself a yard of space on the by-line and using it to float up a pearl of a cross from which Moussa Dembele powered a header home.

Celtic’s French striker thrives on confidence and it was no great surprise he quickly added a second which he both created, drawing a foul from Michael Doyle, and converted, side-footing home the spot-kick.

“The second goal was contentious as it looked like it was outside the box,” said Morton manager Jim Duffy, who by then had had the benefit of having seen the incident back on television.

“It was a big decision because it gave Celtic a bit more time to relax.”

Quite. Demeble, who had taken his goal tally for the season to 12 with the penalty went hunting for the hat-trick.

He could count himself unlucky not to make it 13 when another fine header was tipped over the bar by Gaston.

In the end it was the impressive Edouard who netted, finishing off a nice move involving Charly Musonda, Scott Brown and, with the assist, James Forrest.

It was a nice finish but hard on their Championship opponents who had contributed well to the tie.

The holders march on, though, into the semi-final draw and in pursuit of the back-to-back Treble.