Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 14:00; Sunday; Premier Sports TV
- League Cup semi-final @Hampden Park
- Celtic win to go thru to the final; St Mirren won the other semi-final.
- 1-1 at FT, 3-1 after Extra-time. Celtic had a goal ruled out for offside (Raskin own-goal).
- Returning Trusty gets player of the match.
- First meeting with Martin O’Neill as the interim manager and the new manager (Danny Rohl) at Sevco as Russell Martin got sacked a month back.
- Celtic release fan survey results.
- Rumours Dermot Desmond behind moves to realign the board. Nicholson off to Europe with Lawwell retiring again! Could some of the rest also be about to depart?
- Ultras group, the Green Brigade, have presented a “clear mandate” for a new standing section at Celtic Park.
- Sevco raging and demanding another meeting with the SFA, they view that the latter’s key match incident panel two-to-one ruling validates their belief that Auston Trusty should have been sent off rather than shown a yellow card for catching goalkeeper Jack Butland’s head.
- Reports:
- Gordon Strachan’s suggestion that Celtic must wait until December to secure their managerial target hints at either Craig Bellamy, who wants to complete Wales’ World Cup qualifying campaign, or Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen, with Norway’s domestic season ending on 30 November.
- Celtic have a concrete interest in Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen as Brendan Rodgers’ successor.
- Ex-Celtic manager Postecoglou apparently not in contention (or is he?). Former England/Aus rugby head coach Eddie Jones believes his Aussie compatriot more likely to stay in EPL than return to Celtic.
- Kieran McKenna insisted his focus remains on Ipswich Town as he addressed speculation.
- Ferencvaros’ Robbie Keane and former Shelbourne boss Damien Duff are being assessed.
- MLS – Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy, who previously worked as an assistant under EPL great Thierry Henry at Montreal, has emerged as an outside candidate.
- Scottish FA head of refereeing backs Nick Walsh’s decision not to send off Celtic defender Auston Trusty in the recent Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers. Trusty appeared to catch goalkeeper Jack Butland’s head with a foot.
Summary
“I was 73 on Monday, I’m 94 now!,”
“I don’t even know when the final is”, replies Celtic interim boss Martin O’Neill when asked if he fancies hanging around for the big game against St Mirren on 14 December. “I would imagine the club are making inroads to a permanent manager,” he continues, before adding: “Ask me that tomorrow.”
jokes Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill on Premier Sports.
BBC
O’Neill’s Celtic edge thriller – analysispublished at 17:26 GMT
17:26 GMT
FT: Celtic 3-1 Rangers
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park
The last meeting between these two was an absolute bore. Not this one, though. It was pulsating, reflecting just how big this was for both clubs given the turmoil of this season so far.
Celtic’s old and young guard ultimately made the difference to finally shake off Rangers’ persistence.
All of a sudden, Celtic seem to have options in the central striking role, with Johnny Kenny now netting three goals in two matches and Callum Osmand seizing on his chance under Martin O’Neill.
The holders pinned Rangers back, getting the ball out wide very early repeatedly. Their intensity was high and they deserved to be ahead. They didn’t kill off their opponents, though, and it came back to haunt them.
You’ve got to hand it to both O’Neill and Danny Rohl. Both had influence on their respective performances.
Rangers have made small steps forward in their recent games but, again, on a big occasion their players came up short. Their rousing revival in the face of such adversity was unquestionably impressive, though.
They had chances, excellent ones. And they might well question how Auston Trusty and Anthony Ralston escaped red cards that might have tipped this in their favour.
“There are no words, it’s one of those moments that don’t happen. The last few months, where I’ve not been in squads are the bits that create you as a player, prepare you for this moment.”
On Martin O’Neill, the striker added: “He said he thinks very highly of me, that the staff do, and that gives you the boost you need. “Martin has just given me the belief and the trust. It only takes one person to believe in you and hopefully this is just the start for me. “This is the craziest day for my life ever, this won’t be beaten, it’s the best day of my life.”
Osmand
“I’m really, really proud of the players. It’s been a difficult week with big changes, but the players have stuck together. “We asked them to go and fight on Wednesday, that’s what you have to do at this club, start with a positive result, a clean sheet, they did that, and then you arrive to this game which is huge in the context of this season. “You win that and the whole place comes alive again. So for me, a massive thank you to the players.”
McGregor
ElSalto of KDS:
Well deserved win, please don’t buy into the “plucky losers” narrative, yes they caused us problems with the chaos ball in the second half, but we missed so many chances. On another day we could have had six.
Our players stepped up when needed, and showed enough guile and physicality.
The referee was a disgrace, his sole intention was to keep them in the game. They got a penalty that was never a penalty under any metric, and when huns bang on about Trusty, they conveniently forget the assault by the thug who saw red, and one just as bad on Engels by Cornelius.
Aasgaard 100% went in to do Ralston, and to hear Lennon and Mulgrew trying to admonish him at half time was embarrassing and nauseating.
MON was superb after the match.
KSchwaby67 of KDS:
We were good in first half and then anxious in second. If we have better finishing, we seal that game by 70 minutes. In extra time, we made the extra man count despite Walsh’s best efforts to give them a breather by blocking our quick free kicks and as many fouls as they wanted.
But the main thing? We’ve won. They’ve lost. Much like the Cerny shirt pull last year, they are now only talking about the Trusty boot. I’m not sure what he was thinking – maybe he thought Butland was going to spill the ball? I don’t know tbh. But there isn’t the same force as what Aasgaard did. Trusty was reckless. Aasgaard was dangerous. That’s the difference between a yellow and red, hence the decisions.
If the Trusty incident had never happened, they’d turn their attention to Ralston and say he should have gotten a second yellow for that dodgy pen. But I think Walsh was wary of making the cheating (even it up, it’s nae fair!) too obvious.
They’ll cry and whinge, claiming it’s cheating while ignoring the dubiousness of Maeda’s offside call and the inevitable penalty they were due at 1-0.
Let them cry! The Celts march on to another final. Hail Hail!
AG67 of KDS:
Was going to list the aspects of Celtic’s overall game and also individual players that have improved since last Sunday, but I would still be typing at midnight.
Not being hyperbolic, but the improvement in general and individually is monumental.
Under BR, even with 11v10, Tavernier ‘s penalty might well have been the winner today as Celtic played the ball around at the back and in midfield and created very little. Osmand probably wouldn’t have been in the bench.
Rohl got schooled by a manager who is more than twice his age and an assistant who still looks like a schoolboy.
The Huns will no doubt claim conspiracy from the officials and some sort of moral victory, but they would do that anyway, regardless of the circumstances.
Today’s game reminded me a bit of games against the old Huns in the early/mid 1980s.
Twitter:
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 3h Celtic 3-1 Rangers Martin O’Neill’s Celtic win a derby game with a bit to spare in the end but should’ve had 5 or 6, scandelous penalty decision let Rangers back in the game, real throw back, MON back, an aggressive Celtic win , the only thing missing was the original Rangers.
Auston Trusty was phenomenal this afternoon. He looked a player with a real purpose on Wednesday and carried it on today. He looks like a proper Martin O’Neill type of CB, power, pace, composure, and leadership. It’s been badly needed for a long time.
Excellent showing from Callum Osmand this afternoon, lightening quick, great touch and a superb finish for his goal, plenty of work to do and with the amount of space he had, it might’ve been easier than he anticipated, but his potential is obvious, he’s got personality.
I thought Arnie Engels was brilliant this afternoon, he did so much unselfish running throughout, he was sitting a bit deeper alongside McGreger, and it really suits him seeing more of the game in front of him, definitely his best derby performance to date.It clearly wasn’t a penalty, but Rangers didn’t give themselves it, so I wouldn’t label this incarnation as “no shame FC” but it will be interesting to hear the explanation.
Teams
Celtic
Manager:Martin O’Neill
Formation:4 – 2 – 3 – 1
Starting lineup
01, K. Schmeichel
36, M. Saracchi, subbed for K. Tierney at 77 mins05, L. Scales
06, A. Trusty,45’+3, Yellow Card at 45 mins plus 3
56, A. Ralston,51′, Yellow Card at 51 mins
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain,62′, Yellow Card at 62 mins
27, A. Engels,66′, Yellow Card at 66 mins
23, S. Tounekti, subbed for J. Forrest at 66 mins
08, B. Nygren, subbed for R. Hatate at 71 mins
38, D. Maeda,57′, Yellow Card at 57 mins, subbed for M. Balikwisha at 110 mins
24, J. Kenny, subbed for C. Osmand at 71 mins
Subs:
49, J. Forrest
41, R. Hatate
14, L. McCowan
47, D. Murray
10, M. Balikwisha
19, C. Osmand,111′ ET, Yellow Card at 111 mins extra time
12, V. Sinisalo
63, K. Tierney
13, Yang Hyun-Jun
Goals:
J. Kenny (25′)
C. McGregor (93′ ET)
C. Osmand (109′ ET)
Assists:
A. Engels (25′)
A. Trusty (93′ ET)
K. Tierney (109′ ET)
TheRangers
Manager:Danny Röhl
Formation:3 – 4 – 2 – 1
01, J. Butland
13, D. Cornelius,24′, Yellow Card at 24 mins
05, J. Souttar,105′ ET, Yellow Card at 105 mins extra time
24, N. Djiga, subbed for J. Rothwell at 102 mins
30, J. Meghoma, subbed for M. Aarons at 93 mins
10, M. Diomandé, subbed for M. Moore at 71 mins
43, N. Raskin,73′, Yellow Card at 73 mins, subbed for O. Antman at 90 mins
02, J. Tavernier (c), Captain
11, T. Aasgaard
38′, Red Card at 38 mins
99, Danilo, subbed for D. Gassama at 46 mins
09, Youssef Chermiti, subbed for B. Miovski at 71 mins
Subs:
03, M. Aarons
18, O. Antman
52, F. Curtis
37, E. Fernandez
23, D. Gassama
31, L. Kelly
28, B. Miovski
47, M. Moore
06, J. Rothwell
Goals:
J. Tavernier (81′ pen)
Assists:
Match Officials
Referee: Nick Walsh
Video Assistant Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee 2: Frank Connor
Assistant VAR Official: Andrew Dallas
Venue:Barclays Hampden
Attendance:49,446
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-vs-huns-league-cup-semi-final-pre-match-thr-t143916.html
- Match https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/2025-26-fixtures-thread-hearts-a-now-12pm-on-sunda-t143338.html
- Post https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-huns-post-match-thread-ft-3-1-kenny-mcgre-t143930.html
- MoTM https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/motm-v-huns-league-cup-t143929.html
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 51%
Rangers 49%
Shots
Celtic 22
Rangers 12
Shots on target
Celtic 10
Rangers 4
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 3
Rangers 7
Fouls committed
Celtic 26
Rangers 13
Corners
Celtic 14
Rangers 5
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Celtic 22
Rangers 12
Shots on target
Celtic 10
Rangers 4
Shots off target
Celtic 9
Rangers 4
Attempts out of box
Celtic 4
Rangers 6
Total offsides
Celtic 4
Rangers 2
Defence
Fouls committed
Celtic 26
Rangers 13
Total yellow cards
Celtic 6
Rangers 3
Articles
‘Obvious’: Martin O’Neill addresses Celtic future and says one hero diced with potential wrath
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Chief Football Writer
0Comments
Published 2nd Nov 2025, 18:23 GMT
Updated 2nd Nov 2025, 18:25 GMT
Keep Watching
Celtic 3-1 Rangers in gripping Premier Sports Cup semi-final
Interim manager still does not believe longer stay is on cards
Martin O’Neill admits he would dearly love to lead Celtic out at Hampden at next month’s League Cup final and is open to talks but does not believe staying on that long is even on the agenda.
The interim manager requested to be allowed to enjoy a first win over Rangers under his charge since April 2004 in his first spell at Parkhead.
He will then focus on games against Midtjylland, in the Europa League, and Kilmarnock next Sunday in the Premiership before the gap caused by the international break. O’Neill is of the opinion that the board have adequate time to appoint a permanent successor for Brendan Rodgers long before the final against St Mirren on December 14.
Celtic caretaker manager Martin O’Neill would embrace another date at Hampden next month.
Celtic caretaker manager Martin O’Neill would embrace another date at Hampden next month. | SNS Group
“I don’t think there’ll be that conversation,” the 73-year-old replied, when reminded that men such as Dick Advocaat and Sir Bobby Robson managed well into their 70s, with the former still doing so with the Curacao national side. O’Neill, however, is not confident he will even be asked to carry on longer than the next two games.
“I genuinely don’t think that would be the case,” he said. “I’ve come in, deep down I probably have enjoyed it a bit better than I’m saying to you but not a lot. So, it was really strange. I’ve had enormous help from my backroom staff, (Shaun) Maloney and Mark Fotheringham and Stephen (McManus). All three that I managed at one stage or another.
“Gosh almighty, now they’re standing beside me in the coaching ranks. So, yeah, it was lovely. It’s a great feeling in the dressing room, you know, when you’ve won a game like that.”
O’Neill happy to have talks on longer-term future
Pressed on whether there is any chance he might be in charge at Hampden, he said there had been no mention of it. However, he would happily sit down for talks with major shareholder Dermot Desmond if asked.
“The very obvious answer would be yes, I would do,” he said. “But I genuinely don’t know what to expect. When I saw the games they had and then the international break, I thought they’ll have a couple of weeks to think about it.
“I haven’t even spoken to him (Desmond) since that. In a perverse sort of way I’ve enjoyed the two games – but not a lot…”
He is simply working day to day, he stressed. “I have had no indication, genuinely no indication whatsoever at this minute,” O’Neill said. “None at all.
“And I would have thought that with Midtjylland now Thursday night and then Kilmarnock on the Sunday, I would have thought there’s probably time for them, with an international break, for the board to think about something, you know.”
He admitted he would relish another opportunity. “Well, secretly you would love to, you know. It’s December time…Look, we’re in the results business and all of these things can change. I was actually at Midtjylland’s game against Nottingham Forest, where they were just too strong for them, really, and that was at the City Ground. And then we’ve got the Kilmarnock game on the Sunday.
“So, honestly, these games, it’s all about results and that will determine whether the board might think about taking their time. If we’d got beaten today, I might not even have seen Thursday!”
Three reasons for Celtic prevailing were goals from skipper Callum McGregor, striker Jonny Kenny and teenage substitute Callum Osmand, who picked a good time and occasion to open his account for the club. The 19-year-old livewire converted fellow substitute Kieran Tierney’s cross in the second half of extra time to seal Celtic’s berth in the final.
“He is an interesting character,” said O’Neill. “He’s got plenty of confidence and when he learns to play centre-forward properly, it’ll be great! He does a bit of flicking here and there, but he’s sharp and he wants to go, and he got the goal and he certainly celebrated…
“If the game had gone to penalties and Rangers had won, I would have… he missed a great chance before that, didn’t he? So he might not have seen tomorrow himself!”
Martin O’Neill delivers derby delight for Celtic with semi-final success
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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02 Nov 2025, 5:43 pm
After a resounding 3-1 victory over Rangers at Hampden Park this afternoon, Celtic have booked their place in the League Cup final for the second season in a row.
The scoreline, however, doesn’t tell the whole story of a match which included a red card, big VAR decisions and the requirement of extra-time to decide the outcome.
At the end of it all, though, the Hoops came out on top thanks to goals from Johnny Kenny, Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand, goals which secured a thoroughly deserved victory for Glasgow’s green and white.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the match, Martin O’Neill reflected on his side’s performance and his joy at reaching the League Cup final.
“I’m delighted, relieved and extremely happy to win the game,” the manager said. “To win against Rangers as well, I genuinely couldn’t be more pleased with the team.
“I could sense the players’ intensity before the game and true to their word they really went at it.
‘I thought we were really splendid for long periods, dominating proceedings.’
“We have some fine players in the football club, Callum McGregor being one of them, and in extra-time it was a glorious strike – brilliant from a really great player.
“Callum Osmand is coming up through the ranks, and he certainly doesn’t lack confidence. He wants to get at people and all of us will be encouraging that.”
For so many amongst the Celtic faithful, the sight of Martin O’Neill in the Celtic technical area, sporting a tracksuit and driving the Hoops on to victory over Rangers was like a glimpse back in time to his first spell as the Celtic manager.
And for the Irishman himself, he says that being involved today’s performance and victory made him feel like he was rolling back the years.
He added: “I’m really grateful. I’ve always said that it’s a privilege to manage Celtic.
“If you had asked me last Sunday, I’d have told you I’d be watching this game on television, so from that viewpoint it’s enormous.
‘To be back down in amongst it again, it definitely did bring me back.’
“For us to win against Rangers was terrific and now we’re in a final. I genuinely didn’t know the final was in December time!
“It was great, the crowd were fantastic and I appreciate it and have genuine warmth for it all.”
Callum McGregor: Players were outstanding in winning semi-final
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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02 Nov 2025, 5:30 pm
As has so often been the case, Callum McGregor delivered another midfield masterclass to help guide Celtic into the League Cup final.
The Celtic captain was superb throughout the game, and capped a fine performance with a stunning strike early in extra-time to put the Hoops 2-1 ahead.
And speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the skipper was pleased with the team’s showing in the derby, delivering a 3-1 win over Rangers and a place in the final next month against St Mirren.
“I’m super proud of the group,” he said. “It’s been a busy week with a lot of change, a wee bit of anxiety in the building etc…, which is normal, so to win on Wednesday night was superb.
“We asked the players to go again and back it up in what is a massive game in the context of the season – if you win this, you can fly.
“These was so much demand on the players, so much pressure, and they handled it so, so well. I thought the first-half we were unbelievable, the intensity that we played with and we really got control of the game.
“Then, when it went 10 v 11, we made it a little bit more difficult that what we probably had to, but the good news is that the players solved the puzzle in the game.
“And once we got the second goal, that just calmed everything down again and we really started to look like the team in control.
“And then the third one, which is what we deserved. So it’s a fabulous result and it takes us into another cup final, which is where we want to be, but now we have to go again.
“We’ve got to rest and recover because we’ve got another big game on Thursday and then a big game on Sunday before we break up.”
After the game finished all-square at the end of 90 minutes, Celtic took the early in extra-time, and it was a stunning Callum McGregor shot from the edge of the area which put the Hoops ahead.
And another Callum – Callum Osmand – made sure of the victory with a goal early in the second period of extra-time.
The Celtic captain was delighted with his goal but, more importantly, with the performance of his team-mates after what has been a tough week at the club.
“This team has so many winners in it, serial winners, young guys with so much talent,” he said, “and I actually think that everything that’s went on has helped galvanise the players and they want to show they’ve got a bit about them.“
‘And in this fixture to show it the way we did in the first-half was outstanding, so a big thanks to the players from me because I know it’s not easy.’
“I knew I had a good chance (of his shot going in). First and foremost you just try and get it out of your feet and get your strike away as early as you can, and I saw it wobble and saw the goalkeeper underneath it a little bit, and I just saw it flying into the roof of the net. So, if you don’t shoot, you don’t score.
“That win is one for the supporters because it’s been a tough time and a result like this in a game like this can really catapult the club back to where we want to be, and now it’s on us to continue that and keep working every three days.
“There’s so much football to be played until that point, but your job as a Celtic player, is to be in finals and win things, so we managed to get over that hurdle today.
“We arrive into the final and we’ll enjoy it when it comes, but there’s so much football to be played and now it’s a case of, can we put a run together and keep climbing the table.”
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cj41w1584w7t#Report
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden
Captain Callum McGregor and teenage substitute Callum Osmand scored in extra time to take holders Celtic into the League Cup final at 10-man Rangers’ expense in a pulsati
ng match at Hampden.
James Tavernier’s late penalty in normal time levelled Johnny Kenny’s first-half header, with the Ibrox side hindered by Thelo Aasgaard’s straight red card for a foul on Anthony Ralston shortly before the interval.
In Martin O’Neill’s 28th Old Firm game – but his first since 2005 – he emerged victorious after Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation earlier this week and set up a final on 14 December against St Mirren.
Victory pierced Rangers’ recent mini-revival under new head coach Danny Rohl, who was seeking a third straight victory for the Ibrox side for the first time this season. Despite their impressive resilience and second-half ambition, they fell marginally short.
The idea that O’Neill and Rohl would be in the respective dugouts would have been unimaginable a short time ago and only added to the anticipation.
Celtic to wait until December for manager? – gossip
Latest Celtic news, views & reaction
All you need to know about Rangers
After an uninspiring 0-0 stalemate in their previous meeting, this was night and day. It was edge of the seat throughout.
Celtic flexed first, pressing Rangers back, and looked to have taken the lead when Nasser Djiga smashed the ball off Nico Raskin and watched in horror as it sailed into his own net. The tightest of offside calls against Daizen Maeda on review was a huge let-off.
Rangers responded and ought to have scored through Youssef Chermiti and it proved costly as Kenny rose to meet a corner and his glancing header found the corner.
Rohl’s side, again, had opportunities despite being second best at that stage, but their task grew wider when Aasgaard left stud marks down Ralston’s thigh after a high challenge and departed proceedings.
Celtic failed to take advantage, though, and were perhaps fortunate when Auston Trusty inexplicably caught Jack Butland’s head as the goalkeeper dived to gather a loose ball. The defender escaped with a booking, to Rangers’ fury.
Rohl made changes and his side rallied. Substitute Djeidi Gassama was brilliantly denied by Liam Scales but the winger would make a decisive impact when his shot struck the falling Ralston’s arm. It was another controversial call, but Tavernier expertly dispatched the resultant penalty.
Chances, good ones, fell to both sides as it swung from end to end. Rangers often looked the more likely but Celtic substitute James Forrest came so close with a strike off the underside of the bar.
It took McGregor’s thundering strike early in extra time to set Celtic on their way, with Osmand’s fine close-range finish, his first for the club, ultimately decisive.
Martin O’Neill
Analysis: O’Neill’s Celtic edge thriller
The last meeting between these two was an absolute bore. Not this one, though. It was pulsating, reflecting just how big this was for both clubs given the turmoil of this season so far.
Celtic’s old and young guard ultimately made the difference to finally shake off Rangers’ persistence.
All of a sudden, Celtic seem to have options in the central striking role, with Kenny now netting three goals in two matches and Osmand seizing on his chance under O’Neill.
The holders pinned Rangers back, getting the ball out wide very early repeatedly. Their intensity was high and they deserved to be ahead. They didn’t kill off their opponents, though, and it came back to haunt them.
You’ve got to hand it to both O’Neill and Rohl. Both had influence on their respective performances.
Rangers have made small steps forward in their recent games but, again, on a big occasion their players came up short. Their rousing revival in the face of such adversity was unquestionably impressive, though.
They had chances, excellent ones. And they might well question how Trusty and Ralston escaped red cards that might have tipped this in their favour.
‘Is this what we’re going to get from Celtic every week now?’
Celtic 3-1 Rangers (AET) – Martin O’Neill wins generation game on Old Firm return as veteran boss raises possibility of extending stay after League Cup semi-final triumph
By JOHN MCGARRY
Published: 19:03, 2 November 2025 | Updated: 19:03, 2 November 2025
Presumably the last of the Celtic supporters who sought refuge under their beds on Tuesday morning have now come out.
Twenty years after Martin O’Neill last led the side, there was an understandable sense of trepidation that a legacy could be scuffed. So much for that.
Having conjured up Celtic’s best performance of the season via an introductory chat before the midweek win over Falkirk, this seismic victory over Rangers puts him back in the sedan chair.
Brendan Rodgers, who resigned under a cloud, is Celtic’s most decorated living manager. O’Neill is the most revered.
What a moment this was for the 73-year-old. His side were superior to Rangers in the first half. Not only were they a goal up through Johnny Kenny, they enjoyed a numerical advantage following Thelo Aasgaard’s red card.
Rangers deserve no little credit for the way they rallied thereafter. They stayed in the game then asked some questions of their own. When James Tavernier converted a late penalty to take the game to extra time, you wondered if Danny Rohl might just somehow win this generation game.
Perhaps, a week ago, a Celtic side which had looked so unsure of themselves would have gone into their shells.
But with O’Neill kicking every ball like he used to, they prevailed by showing the kind of heart that’s been so often conspicuous by its absence this season.
From the moment Callum McGregor struck a powerful shot through Jack Butland’s arms, the holders were never losing this.
Long before Callum Osmand netted his first for the club to settle the issue, a new generation of Celtic supporters were scattering rose petals in the path of the interim manager. Who says you should never go back?
With a Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren to come next month, you would not bet against this temporary arrangement being extended.
This was a painful day for Rangers’ young head coach. His side started sluggishly and were dealt a wounding blow by Aasgaard’s lunge.
You had to admire how they dusted themselves down after the break to make a fist of things. In a game of thin margins, Butland’s aberration was extremely costly. Having bounced back once, the 10 men were unable to rouse themselves for a second time.
From the get go, it was fast and frantic. While there was a nervousness to Rangers early on, Celtic looked more assured. Nasser Djiga kicking fresh air with his first involvement didn’t help Rohl’s men settle.
O’Neill stayed in the technical area for the first eight minutes. The point when Daizen Maeda was penalised for a dubious foul on Youssef Chermiti was his cue to take his customary place.
He’d have been frustrated at his side’s inability to take one of the early half-chances they created. Maeda ought to have done better than fire straight at Jack Butland.
Maeda typified Celtic in the first half. Even by his standards, his energy was extraordinary.
He seemed to be everywhere. Unfortunately for Celtic, that also included being marginally offside as they took a free-kick before Djiga smashed the ball off Nico Raskin with Butland helpless as the ball went into his net. VAR saved Rangers on that occasion, but they didn’t heed the warning.
Although Chermiti twice went close, Celtic controlled the early stages and edged in front on 25 minutes.
It was a poor concession from Rohl’s point of view. Arne Engels’ corner was whipped with pace to the near post. Kenny had four opponents for company yet showed more appetite than any of them to win the ball. A flashing header gave Butland no chance.
It might quickly have got better for O’Neill’s side, but Kenny fired straight at the keeper. To the Irishman’s chagrin, Benjamin Nygren then took the ball off his toe.
For all their growing pressure, Celtic were fortunate not to be pegged back when Danilo found Nico Raskin with a cute reverse pass. Kasper Schmeichel did well to spread himself.
Rangers’ task was made markedly more difficult seven minutes from the break. Aasgaard seemed in control of the ball until a heavy touch made Anthony Ralston favourite to take it from him.
The Norwegian’s instincts took over. His challenge looked accidental, but it was high, catching his opponent in the midriff. It was a red card all day long.
Auston Trusty could consider himself fortunate not to follow him. The American hung out a leg which caught Butland on the face. It was unnecessary. A yellow card was the least he deserved.
With Danilo sacrificed at the break, the 10 men of Rangers made a real go of it. They found energy from somewhere yet couldn’t fashion the one thing they needed — chances.
As Celtic looked for the killer second, Kenny got his feet in a tangle as Maeda waited for a tap-in. Engels fired a curler just wide. Butland pulled off a fine double-stop to deny Nygren then Ralston.
James Forrest beat the Rangers keeper only for his stride to thud the underside of the bar.
With five players on a booking, maintaining discipline was as much a priority for Celtic as a second goal.
Rangers needed something to fall out of the sky for them. It appeared to have landed when Djeidi Gassama latched onto a ball over the top. Liam Scales did extraordinarily well to a make up the ground and slide in.
To their credit, Rohl’s men stuck at it and would soon have their reward. Gassama’s mazy run across the box preceded a goal-bound strike. Ralston’s arm was tucked in, but it did strike him on the elbow. Referee Nick Walsh pointed to the spot. Tavernier blasted the ball into the left corner.
Another big save from Butland prevented Osmand from being an instant hero after being introduced from the bench. Reo Hatate’s rising strike in injury time ensured we were going the distance.
Butland had a fine 90 minutes, but he won’t look back on his start to extra-time with any pride.
Played in by Trusty, McGregor caught the ball well although his shot from 20 yards looked too central to be troubling the keeper. Butland seemed to dive beyond it. McGregor wheeled away to celebrate.
The keeper did well to turn Osmand’s header round the post before Schmeichel stood up to thwart Gassama.
It took four minutes of the second period of extra time for Celtic to settle the issue.
Kieran Tierney’s cross had pace and accuracy. It asked a lot of Osmand, but he was up to the task, sliding in between two defenders to claim his first Celtic goal.
New heroes born on a day when an old one returned.
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