DEMOLITION CUP DERBY
Scoreline doesn’t reflect just how dominant Rodgers’ side were over Old Firm rivals
PLUS THE WINNER PULLOUT
DESTROYED. Demolished. Dominated. Demoralised.
If Pedro Caixinha didn’t know the size of the task he has on his hands he surely does now.
When Celtic hammered Mark Warburton’s Rangers 5-1 in the opening clash of the season it was a caning.
The 1-0 Betfred Cup semi-final win for Brendan Rodgers’s team was even more emphatic a victory in terms of play if not scoreline.
This though was by far the biggest towelling of the lot.
It’s almost impossible to believe exactly 12 months prior to this mauling Rangers had stunned Celtic and bombed them out at the same stage of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Since then the Parkhead club have spent every waking second making them pay.
Wheels for the arrival of Rodgers were set in motion almost the minute that contest ended last term and the Northern Irishman and his troops have made it their mission to torture the Light Blues.
This was a fourth win in five games against Rangers for Rodgers. Unbeaten against them and against the rest of Scottish football in 41 domestic matches.
Now within 10 months of walking in the door he stands of the brink of Parkhead greatness.
Only Aberdeen in the Final stand between Rodgers and a place in folklore as just the third Celtic manager to do a domestic clean sweep.
Given the way the Dons were swept aside in the Betfred Cup Final last November it’s Rodgers’s to lose.
They are so far ahead of Rangers at the moment it is almost frightening and it was one extremely tough fact-finding mission for Caixinha.
It is almost six weeks since the Portuguese boss hoisted the Rangers scarf above his head.
Since his unveiling Caixinha has talked the talk.
Naming his own teams a day early, naming opposition line-ups, even boasting about having the best squad in the country.
But deep down none of these gimmicks matter to fans. All that matters was this.
In Old Firm world sinking Celtic is all that counts for Rangers supporters.
Only then can you be classed as the real deal.
At this early stage of his reign it was far too big a task inside the packed National Stadium.
Rarely in all the days of the Old Firm could there have been a more one-sided contest, especially a first 45 minutes which was a complete mismatch.
Caixinha made his big decisions beforehand. He stuck by kids David Bates and Myles Beerman in the defence and ignored the potential of ticking time bomb Joe Garner detonating by picking him in attack.
The midfield had apparent bite with Andy Halliday and Jason Holt in there yet nothing functioned.
The selection didn’t work. Bates and Beerman toiled, Garner did nothing. To be fair no one in Light Blue did.
Rangers had no structure. Working out the game plan was a science in itself.
Hoops gaffer Rodgers on the other hand had got it right. Just as he has done since arriving.
Celtic dominated totally and perhaps even more worryingly for Caixinha did so under little duress.
The Portuguese said he was happy Scott Brown had escaped a ban to play.
That came back to bite him as the Celtic skipper had the freedom of Hampden to run the show which he did with relish.
Brown was man of the match. He strolled it and so did his team-mates. Within 48 seconds Celtic had won a corner which hitman Moussa Dembele headed wide and the contest was to remain in that area of the field until they turned around.
In 11 minutes the champions worked their way into the lead.
Having suckered Rangers in by playing keep-ball at the back, full-back Mikael Lustig suddenly changed tack and fired a direct 50-yarder that took out the entire Rangers backline.
Dembele’s instant control and lay-off for Callum McGregor was excellent.
And where Stuart Armstrong had curled just wide moments earlier this one didn’t miss as the playmaker didn’t break stride to instep a sweet low finish into the bottom corner beyond a static Wes Foderingham.
It was classic in its simplicity, ruthless in execution. Rodgers had gone with McGregor instead of Tom Rogic and there was the instant pay-off. Another big call this season correct.
French dangerman Dembele sent another header over from a corner before going off with a pulled hamstring after winning a corner.
Jozo Simunovic headed the award over before the arrival on to the scene of Leigh Griffiths who had to wait an astonishing amount of time to actually get involved.
Patrick Roberts was another big decision for Rodgers. Getting the nod over James Forrest.
Right again. The Manchester City kid had just too much for Beerman as he unleashed his box of tricks.
Booked for hammering Roberts with a scything tackle the Rangers left-back could have seen red seconds later for
tripping the winger as he stormed towards the box.
Griffiths tested Foderingham with that free-kick which the keeper punched away as the waves kept crashing against the Rangers goal.
It took 40 minutes for the Light Blues to register a shot at goal. Even then it was miles off from Kenny Miller. Just like their first-half show.
Caixinha had to do something. Fortunate to be just 1-0 down it needed drastic action.
Joe Dodoo and Barrie McKay entered the equation for the poor Garner and Halliday.
It was a real throw caution to the wind job.
Unable to outplay Celtic they had to try to get bodies up the pitch and go for broke but it was a waste of time.
Within four minutes of the restart the whole thing went up in smoke. Ironically, Rangers were finally attacking when Rodgers’s team broke at pace for Roberts to send Griffiths scampering clear.
James Tavernier sped across to cover but was just too late and brought the striker down.
Referee Willie Collum opted for yellow and although Foderingham was able to get a hand on Scott Sinclair’s spot-kick he couldn’t keep it out and Celtic were home and dry.
From that moment it had become a case of how many.
Foderingham tipped over the bar from Griffiths seconds after the penalty was scored. Roberts was denied, Griffiths had another pop and Dedryck Boyata headed over.
Rangers were a complete shambles. When Jason Holt and Danny Wilson tried to play a quick free-kick and rolled it out of the park it summed it all up.
Celtic were so far ahead in all areas and that was probably the only reason the scoreline was not extended because they overplayed, got confident and just held their lead.
It gave Rangers a couple of late sniffs. Tavernier chipped into the box and Miller had a glancing header which forced Craig Gordon to get his gloves dirty for the first time after an hour.
Miller and Martyn Waghorn had another couple of chances, as did Dodoo, but they weren’t up to the job.
Sub Rogic hit a post in stoppage time but the job was complete.
Celtic and Rodgers were the ones with the match winners. Again.
Rangers looked acres behind. Celtic are just 90 minutes from going into the history books.
Rangers were just a complete shambles .. Celtic were so far ahead in all areas