Countdown to the Old Firm showdown
Kenny Shiels might just be the man to give Steven Gerrard pointers as to how beat Celtic in this afternoon’s showpiece occasion.
Currently the boss of the Northern Ireland women’s team, he is the last manager to have beaten the Hoops in the League Cup Final, indeed in either of the domestic cup finals.
That, of course, happened seven years ago when he led Kilmarnock to a famous success at the National Stadium.
“People forget that prior to our win, Celtic had been on an incredible run, too,” said the 63-year-old.
“The Final was played in March, 2012, and they went in to it not having lost a domestic game since the previous October.
“In between times they’d had a couple of draws, including the famous 3-3 game with ourselves at Rugby Park. But all the rest were victories.
“Most of the teams had sat back against them. We didn’t do that – we just went for it. That attacking approach paid off because it won us the game.
“I remember watching it back on television and hearing John Hartson’s analysis. He was talking in terms of our ‘luck’ having held.
“That comment hurt me a lot. I couldn’t understand how he could sit there and say that.
“We had more of the possession and we created several chances.
“While it is true our keeper, Cammy Bell, made some good saves, we definitely deserved to win.
“So my thought was that John must have been hurt by the result, just as Neil Lennon, his former Celtic team-mate, would have been when watching it all unfold from the touchline.
“He must have been fancying the
Treble that season because they had a great team – Joe Ledley, Victor Wanyama, Ki Sung-Yeung, Gary Hooper and the rest. But in the end they lost out in both Cups, with Hearts going on to beat them in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
“But, of course, Neil has enjoyed quite a career as a manager since then.
“He is back in his second stint in charge at Celtic. He completed a Treble that Brendan Rodgers started last season and he will be fancying grabbing a Treble once again.
“I think he is a really talented manager and a great example of the work ethic we export over from Northern Ireland.
“If you count Danny Lennon – he did play for our B team – 18 of the last 25 trophies available in Scotland have been won by Northern Irishmen.”
Cynics might argue it is statistic skewed somewhat by the sweepthe-board-success of Brendan Rodgers at Celtic Park. But it is impressive nevertheless.
Derek McInnes, John Hughes and Jim McIntyre are three Scots who have got in on the act as, of course, as has one Englishman.
“What Alan Stubbs did with Hibs in 2016 when leading the club to their first Scottish Cup win in 114 years is hard to top,” said Shiels, who hasn’t worked in Scotland since 2013, but would consider a return in the future.
“Can Steven Gerrard do something similar and end Celtic’s long winning streak? I do think it is definitely due.
“At the same time, my gut feeling is probably that Rangers might just come up a little short.
“People would probably think that would disappoint me. But the truth is I would like Neil to keep the flag flying for Northern Ireland.”