Celtic’s treble dream up in smoke as they crash in League Cup

LONDON: Celtic’s dreams of a domestic treble were dashed on Tuesday when they were stunned 1-0 by second-tier strugglers Morton in the third round of the Scottish League Cup.

With the scores level after 90 minutes at Celtic Park, visitors Morton were awarded a penalty early in extra time for a handball by Celtic defender Efe Ambrose.

Dougie Imrie duly converted from the spot and Morton survived a late scare when Charlie Mulgrew hit the post to dump the hosts out of the competition and book a place in the quarter-finals.

Celtic won 27 corners to Morton’s two and beaten manager Neil Lennon said he could not fault his side for effort.

“I have got to be philosophical about it,” he said.

“It wasn’t for the attitude or want of trying in the game. It just wasn’t our night, for whatever reason.

“The only disappointment for me is we had 26 corners and we didn’t convert one of them with the height we had in the team.

“We have to take our chances. We ended up putting Virgil van Dijk up to give us something different and certainly we created a lot more.”

He added: “If you don’t take your chances, you don’t expect to win the game.

“I thought we would at least get one tonight and that is a surprise and disappointment to me.

“But I am not going to hammer the players.

“It has been a very demanding start to the season for them and I think they are looking forward to the game on Saturday (at Kilmarnock).

“It is a frustration, but I will get over it very quickly. I have too much to look forward to, to dwell on it.” — AFP