The Hoops ace hailed keeper Joe Hart the hero for his shoot-out save against Aberdeen – but only after he’d given his pals a fright

Alistair Johnston admits he was cursing Joe Hart when the Celtic keeper put him on the spot. But he was hailing the Hoops no.1 as a hero for producing the save that sent Celts into the Scottish Cup Final.

Johnston’s head was spinning by the end of an incredible afternoon on Glasgow’s south side. The Canadian had seen Aberdeen surge ahead, the Hoops turn it around only to concede an equaliser in the last minute of regulation time. Celts got in front once more – only to get pegged back in the final second of extra time.

In between times there were disallowed goals, VAR controversy, a million subplots and plenty losing the plot. And all of that was before a mind-blowing shoot-out where Hart stepped up to take the fifth penalty with a chance to seal it for Celts – only to hit the post. Johnston was next in line and managed to do the business before his keeper confirmed a return to Hampden next month with a decisive save.

The full back needed a lie down in a dark room by the end of it all. Johnston said: “I was just begging for the final whistle and then, of course, they scored.

“My first thought was, ‘I’m going to have to take a penalty. I’m just happy that thing went it. There was relief when Joe made the save. He had the chance to win and big Cameron Carter-Vickers said, ‘this is going to be a fairytale for Joe’.

“I said, ‘you can’t say that out loud, you’ve jinxed it!’ Then, he hit the post. I knew I was going to take the sixth penalty and that I was next. Cheers mate! When he saved that final one it was relief. Joe is so good at those, he’s in great form.”

Hart grabbing the ball had Hampden stunned and eyebrows flying up so quickly they were in danger of flying off foreheads all around the ground while jaws were scraping the floor. Johnston wasn’t surprised though as he’s watched the shot stopper slamming them in behind the scenes all season.

He said: “Joe fancies himself as a penalty taker so that will hurt his ego a little that he’s dragged that one. He thinks he’s hit it well. He was always down to take the fifth penalty, that was always the plan. They gave us the list straight away. After that it was a case of ‘who wants one?’

“To be fair, that’s all keepers do in training sessions, take penalties into each other. I was actually pretty confident when he went up. I thought he was just going to hit it like a goal kick and rip one. I was a little surprised when he went for the corner because in training he probably is our best penalty taker.”

Hart redeemed himself in some style, but he wasn’t the only Hoops hero at Hampden. By the time of the madness of the shoot-out was unfolding, it was almost lost in the wash the role James Forrest had played in wrestling control of the tie.

The wide man’s appearances have been fleeting this season but he’s always retained a special place in the affections of his manager. Forrest was sent on in the second half and within seconds provided more of a cutting edge than Yang Hyun-jun, the man he replaced.

He had one shot blocked and moments later slammed the next one into the bottom corner. The club stalwart sent Johnston through to tee up Matt O’Riley for the third and by the finale Forrest had moved a step closer to adding to his remarkable trophy haul.

The 32-year-old is in the mix to grab medals 23 and 24 of a glittering career and Johnston reckons he’s playing alongside one of the Parkhead greats. Johnston said: “He’s a legend, but he’s a legend because he’s such a good footballer.

“It’s his directness. He’s such a sharp and clever player. When he cuts inside he knows what to do. He drives inside with purpose.

“He’s a smart player who feels the game so well. He’s such a clean player as well with his first touch. He wins fouls, puts his body on the line and there’s a reason why he’s been at this club so long. It’s not an easy thing to do.”

The man himself seemed to wonder what all the fuss was about. This is what he does and has always done. Forrest has notched in three finals and now three semi-finals and almost humbly shrugged if off as just another day at the office.

He said: “As a Celtic player you always want to be part of big games and it’s always special going to Hampden. It was great to contribute and we have a final to look forward to.

“Every attacking player at Celtic, you are always judged on if you can make things happen. The manager doesn’t need to tell you that – you need to make an impact. I’m glad I was able to do that. We would have liked to have done it in 90 minutes but it maybe showed that extra bit of character.

“The boys who stepped up under pressure to take those penalties were incredible. It’s always worse when you are watching! We can put this to bed now and we have five leagues games left now.”

Johnston was just thrilled to book a return ticket to Hampden for May 25, regardless of how they got there. He said: “The most important thing was to get through. Survive and advance as we call it at home.

“You forget about it. We’ll be back here in four or five weeks with a chance to win a trophy and at Celtic that’s what it’s all about. We’re excited about that. It was one where you felt the football gods were on your side a little. It was just a crazy football match.”

“You can only avoid it if you lock yourself in the house,” Charlie Mulgrew

Charlie Mulgrew knows all too well what it’s like playing for a big football club. But when that football club is Celtic, then the stakes are immeasurable at times for the players.

The former Hoops defender was helping promote this weekend’s Scottish Cup Semi-final at Hampden Park, where Celtic will face Aberdeen on Saturday, then our city rivals for the Scottish Premiership will play Hearts the day after.

It will just be another day at the office for manager Brendan Rodgers, who emphatically declared that “this is when Celtic comes alive”, in the aftermath of our 3-0 victory over St Mirren this past Saturday. The Irishman has been over the course and did this sort of thing on many occasions, with Rodgers the man who started the domestic clean sweeps which we have become so accustomed to over the last few years.

Having been paired with Aberdeen a fair few times now in the domestic cup competitions at the national stadium, the former Liverpool boss knows what it takes to get the job done and that is just what Mulgrew expects to happen when we clash with the Dons this weekend.

“If I had to bet on it, I’d go Celtic and theRangers but both of them need to navigate their way through,” as reported by Daily Record. “They are playing against two teams that are desperate to get there as well and to win some silverware as well. If they can get to a final and have that chance to do that they’re going to be up for it.

“Sometimes when you are playing against an underdog, it’s hard because all the expectation is on Celtic and theRangers. My prediction would be a Celtic v theRangers final but it will be difficult.”

This potential explosion of the big two is something that everyone is relishing and Mulgrew revealed that it will boil down to who can handle that heat of the race the most. “I tried to avoid it as a player but you just feel it,” he said. “In Glasgow, it’s unique. You can go to the shop and somebody will say, ‘What happened on Saturday?’ and you just instantly get a feeling of how people are feeling. You get a sense of it just from the tone of their voice. You know.”

He added: “It’s the opposite if you win a game and even if the other team loses, you bump into fans of your own club and they are high as a kite. Suddenly, you feel like everything has turned. Everywhere you go, you get a feeling of how things are. You can only avoid it if you lock yourself in the house. Some players will look at social media, others won’t. Some players will read papers, others won’t. Everybody’s different but you find your own way to cope.”

Brendan Rodgers and his wisdom in leading Celtic’s title fight with Rangers

Brendan Rodgers’ second Celtic spell probably hasn’t followed the sequence many would’ve imagined since he returned to Parkhead last summer.

In a chaotic campaign with twists and turns, Celtic have led the Scottish Premiership table by eight points, fell five points behind a matter of months later, and pulled it back full circle to hold an advantage heading into the post-split fixtures.

Nevertheless, Rodgers never lost faith in this term’s murkier moments, even when our quest for silverware looked like clattering into several roadblocks. Remember February 25th? Maybe you don’t, but that day could prove crucial once we look back on this season’s tale.

Celtic found themselves 1-0 down to Motherwell at Fir Park after an uninspiring first half performance, before Adam Idah came off the bench to score a double, including a last-minute winner topped off by a Luis Palma strike to clinch a victory to cut Rangers’ gap at the top from five points to two.

Post-match, the Irishman’s comments will resonate among supporters. Despite potentially being four points behind if we drew in Lanarkshire, he stated: “Four points isn’t a lot in my experience. Four points would have been nothing.”

Later, he coined the now-famous phrase: “There is a story being written about this club, but we will write our own story.”

At the time, it felt as if Rodgers was trying to create a siege mentality of sorts, to ensure his players, himself and the supporters remained united in the face of a difficult period between January and late February.

Nothing is won from a Celtic perspective; there is still a long way to go, but a noticeable togetherness in the stands and on the pitch now exists as we charge towards the run-in, which hasn’t always been pertinent in 2023/24.

Brendan Rodgers and his ability to galvanise Celtic

If we’re being honest, at one point earlier in 2024, it felt like Celtic were on the brink of implosion following a string of poor performances that included a nervy 1-0 victory over Ross County, draws against Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, and a get-out-of-jail win away to Hibernian courtesy of two Idah penalties.

Now, the Bhoys have registered 26 goals in their last eight matches across all competitions. Granted, there are some tough tests to come post-split; however, we are in a far better place to take on this challenge than we were a few months ago.

Former Hoops striker Andy Walker has credited Rodgers for his old side’s mini-revival on the Go Radio Football Show, citing his experience and elite-level management as an explanation for our upturn in fortunes.

He stated: “You knew what you were buying into when Brendan Rodgers came back, he’s an elite manager, he’s been over the course before.

“I’ve got to say, I was a bit surprised that he came back to Scotland, but Celtic went out and got him. I know that he divides opinion with some Celtic fans; they don’t like the way he left last time around.

“They’re not having him this time round, but I think if he wins this title, you’ll still get one or two who have a few murmurs, I’m sure, but I think he has shown the experience, the leadership required to get through a vital stage of the season.”

Brendan Rodgers can build a fresh legacy at Celtic

The first time around, Rodgers was all-conquering, leading Celtic to seven trophies before departing for Leicester City in 2019, evoking ire from supporters.

His return last summer was an unforeseen development; nevertheless, he has taken on the challenge, showing persistence in tough times to turn a precarious situation around amid mounting pressure on his side to perform.

Can we finish the first chapter of writing our own story? It is too soon to say, but we have a fighting chance.

‘For me’: Robbie Savage shares who he thinks will win the Scottish Premiership now – Celtic or Rangers

Glasgow Rangers and Celtic are, once again, going head to head in the race for the Scottish Premiership title.

Ibrox or Celtic Park will be the destination for this year’s trophy once again, and it’s incredibly tough to call who will win the league.

Philippe Clement and Brendan Rodgers will both be fancying their chances at this point, and they both know that if they win all of their games, they will be champions.

So, who will win the league? That’s incredibly hard to predict, but speaking on BBC 606, Robbie Savage has had a go at picking his winner.

Robbie Savage predicts who will win the Scottish Premiership

Savage gave his prediction alongside Chris Sutton.

“Let’s hear from Rangers fans, is that your chance of winning the Scottish Premiership over, I don’t think so, it’s still in their hands,” Sutton said.

“Celtic, Celtic’s to lose now for me Chris. Yeah, especially as Rangers go to Celtic and they have to win that game now. If they both win every other game a draw wouldn’t be good enough, would it?” Savage said.

Celtic are slight favourites

It has to be said that Savage may be right here.

Celtic have to be considered slight favourites here.

The Bhoys are four points ahead of Rangers right now, albeit with a game in hand, and the final Old Firm Derby of the season is at Celtic Park rather than at Ibrox in a game that Celtic can indeed afford to draw if they continue to win their other matches.

Of course, as this weekend showed, there can still be plenty of twists and turns in this title race, but with Celtic now in pole position with just a few games to go, it’s hard to look past Brendan Rodgers’ side as title favourites.

Adam Idah explains the difference between Celtic and Norwich City that is sparking his “best” form

Adam Idah wasn’t a wholly popular signing when his loan move from Norwich City to Celtic was announced in the winter transfer window.

Some Celtic fans, expecting a more ambitious recruitment drive, felt that Idah’s arrival was another sign of transfer problems behind the scenes at the club.

However, Brendan Rodgers consistently made it clear he believed in the player and it’s fair to say the striker’s impact has reversed opinion.

He’s scored six goals in his short time here, including a crucial late effort against Rangers in a 3-3 draw last week. As an alternative option to Kyogo Furuhashi, he’s proven his worth.

Idah reckons he’s playing the best football of his career and puts it down to the confidence he feels pulling on a Celtic shirt, rather than being unsure of himself at Norwich.

Adam Idah on his Celtic form

The Republic of Ireland international said this weekend [Daily Record, 13/04 print edition]: “I’m really enjoying playing up here. It’s probably the most confident I’ve ever been. People can probably tell that when I’m on the pitch and around the place, it’s probably the best I have played and you can tell by the goals.

“There’s a lot of things he [Rodgers] does with me and the other attacking players in training that you can see I’ve brought into my game. He’s helped me massively.

“When I first came in there were things we spoke about that he thought he could help me improve. Week by week I’m doing that and I’ll try and repay him as much as the faith he has put in me.

“Being that confident player is huge. When I was at Norwich, I wasn’t confident, I wasn’t getting minutes. It’s a difficult place to be in when you’re not doing so well. So to come here and have everyone behind me, the staff, the fans, has been great for me. I’m loving it.”

Adam Idah statistics 2023/24

Competition	Games	Goals	Assists
Scottish Premiership	9	6	2
Scottish Cup	2	0	0
English Championship	28	6	1
FA Cup	3	1	0
EFL Cup	3	0	0

Idah’s Celtic future

If the price is right, there’s no reason why Celtic shouldn’t make a permanent push to sign Idah this summer. There’s talk that he could be available for around £3m, which is pretty cheap when it comes to strikers.

He is a viable squad player for the Bhoys and with Rodgers’ backing, his confidence can be maintained into a new season. He’s shown he is good enough to punish teams in the Scottish Premiership.

Whether it’ll all be as smooth as snatching him up in a bargain deal remains to be seen. Norwich may well have other plans for him now that he’s boosted his profile.

Chris Sutton explains how Celtic could suffer if the Dundee vs. Rangers game is postponed.

Former Celtic hero and now pundit Chris Sutton believes that Rangers’ game with Dundee getting postponed midweek could be of detriment to the Hoops.

The clash – which was initially due to take place before the March international break – was called off for the second time on Wednesday evening and rescheduled for a week later.

Because Dundee may have qualified for the top six by that point, it could play into Rangers’ hands, thinks Sutton. He believes that the Dee may not have the psychological motivation to perform to the best of their ability because they might have nothing to play for.

While Celtic could have the points in the bag and be four clear on Saturday night, this would in no way benefit them in the fight for the championship.

The Bhoys need all the help they can get from other teams and as well as the debate of top six qualification, Sutton thinks that moving the game to a neutral venue – something which has been suggested – would raise a question of sporting integrity during a title race that is as tight as can be.

He said: [RecordSport] “It (the postponement) could actually turn out worse for Celtic.

“I know they have the possibility of going four points clear at the top of the table now and no guarantee Rangers will get this one done next midweek. But if it (the postponed game) does take place on Wednesday and results go Dundee’s at the weekend, the pressure could be totally off them.

“They could already be assured of a top six place and rather than scrapping to get in, they might feel the hard work is done. There’s also talk of taking it to a neutral venue or behind closed doors but it goes back to the old sporting integrity line, doesn’t it?

“The whole situation is a mess.”

Kieran Tierney Answers Potential Celtic Return Question

When it comes to academy stars Celtic have been created, Kieran Tierney is right up there. Working his way through the ranks to become a first team star and an invincible treble winner.

Despite high hopes from supporters that he’d be a lifelong Celtic player, much like a Callum McGregor or James Forrest, Tierney took a different path. In 2019, he made a money spinning move to Arsenal for a record-breaking £25 million, setting a new benchmark for Scottish football transfers.

While Tierney’s journey at Arsenal has been a rollercoaster, with initial expectations of him becoming a future captain, his trajectory took a turn as he found himself out of Mikel Arteta’s preferred lineup, leading to his loan to Real Sociedad. When he has been fit in Spain, he has earned rave reviews but injuries have blighted his spell.

The bond between Tierney and Celtic seems unbreakable. Nearly five years post-departure, whispers of his return to Parkhead are never too far from the surface, especially with Brendan Rodgers’ comeback stirring more speculation.

Tierney himself has. not done anything to cool the rumours, hinting at a possible reunion with Celtic somewhere down the road. In a conversation with talkSPORT live, Tierney was asked about a potential return, the Arsenal loanee replying, “Who knows. You never know in football, it’s a connection that I will always have and it’s somewhere I will imagine I will always be linked with if I were to move from any club. So, you never know.”

The prospect of Tierney donning the Celtic jersey again is appealing, but the money it would take for his return coupled with his injury history and it becomes less so.

At just 26, he remains a sought-after talent capable of making waves in one of Europe’s top leagues if he can stay fit.

‘I’ve got to say’: Noel Gallagher shares who he thinks will win the league after watching Celtic vs Rangers

The fallout of the Glasgow Derby between Celtic and Rangers has not only caused debate over the contentious VAR decisions, it has also thrown up a great debate on who will win the league.

For Celtic it was all about going to Ibrox and not losing. Coming away from Rangers with a point means that the top of the Scottish Premiership doesn’t change.

All Celtic need to do heading into the final six games of the season is to win all remaining fixtures and Brendan Rodgers has successfully defended the title.

For Rangers, they had to win. Not to just put some daylight between them and us but to also prove that they have the stomach for the fight.

Because the Ibrox club have failed to beat Celtic in a meaningful game for a few seasons now and if they managed that on Sunday then they would have put out a statement of real intent.

But as it stands, they failed once more. A 3-3 draw keeps the title race nice and tight and former Oasis singer, Noel Gallagher, adamant on who he thinks will end up victorious come the end of the season.

Noel Gallagher in awe of Celtic’s draw with Rangers

The music superstar seems to have an affinity for Celtic. Back in 2017, he delighted the fans after he sang ‘Hail Hail the Celts are here’ when spotted at a gig by a Hoops fan.

And now, after watching the Hoops’ draw at Ibrox, Gallagher has made a title prediction that will further endear him to the Hoops support.

Gallagher said [talkSPORT], “What game that was. I thought once Rangers equaliser and Celtic went up the other end and got it, I thought well that’s it.

“But I mean Rangers are in the driving seat if they win the game in hand. I mean you can’t call it.

“Well, I’ve got to say the Bhoys will do it, yeah.”

So there you have it, according to Noel Gallagher Celtic will be lifting the Scottish Premiership trophy come the end of the season.

That is a prediction that all Celtic fans won’t look back in anger at.

Classy gesture from Celtic to Scotland’s National Deaf Team

The charitable arm of Celtic – the Celtic FC Foundation – has donated over £6,000 to the GoFundMe page for Scotland’s National Deaf Team’s trip to the European Deaf Football Championships this summer.

When the team qualified for the tournament in Turkey, which runs from May 20 to June 1 this summer, they set out a fundraising goal of £40,000 to help finance their journey.

They had raised over three-quarters of said target before the Celtic FC Foundation got involved and donated £6,600 which got them over the finishing line.

Celtic is known for its support of the oppressed and things are no different here. In the first place, though, the fact a national team of Scotland are having to raise funds to go to a tournament is somewhat questionable.

Nothing should be taken away from the kind gesture that the club made last Saturday, however, and all Scottish Celtic fans will be cheering on the team when they play at the deaf Euros for the first time in their history next month.

‘Embarrassing and Disgraceful’ – BBC Pundit Slams Glasgow Derby Officiating

Michael Stewart has criticised the standard of refereeing in Scottish football following controversial officiating in Sunday’s Glasgow Derby.

Speaking out on the matter, Stewart highlighted what many fans saw as a pivotal error that influenced the outcome of one of the most critical matches of the season.

In a game where Celtic were leading 2-0, Rangers were awarded a penalty that kick-started their comeback into a 3-3 draw.

Stewart said: [BBC] “The officiating is embarrassing our game. They’ve impacted the result in the biggest game of the season. Disgraceful.”

The penalty decision came after Fabio Silva of Rangers went down in the box following a challenge from Celtic’s Alistair Johnston. Referee John Beaton, who initially issued Silva a yellow card for simulation, reversed his decision after VAR intervention led by Nick Walsh. Beaton, persuaded by the VAR review to consult the pitch-side monitor, was subsequently awarded the penalty.

Silva appeared to be falling before any substantial contact was made, suggesting that Beaton’s original decision was the correct one. The overturning of this call not only changed the dynamics of the match but also added to the ongoing debates about the consistency and accuracy of officiating in the league.

This incident reignited criticisms previously voiced by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who had labelled Beaton as “incompetent” following contentious decisions against Hearts.

As discussions continue, the pressure mounts on the Scottish FA to address these concerns, ensuring that officiating standards are improved to uphold the integrity of the competition.

Rangers vs. Celtic injury latest before Old Firm derby – McGregor, Sima and more

The latest instalment of another eagerly-anticipated Old Firm derby takes centre stage on Sunday as Rangers play host to Celtic at Ibrox in a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership showdown.

Just one point separates the two Glaswegian giants heading down the home straight, with reigning champions Celtic currently leading the way, but Rangers in second place have a game in hand.

Philippe Clement‘s side returned to winning ways last weekend when they fought off a spirited Hibernian outfit to win 3-1 on home soil thanks to goals from James Tavernier, Cyriel Dessers and Rabbi Matondo.

Celtic, meanwhile, secured their third victory in a row across all competitions when they beat basement club Livingston by a 3-0 scoreline away from home, courtesy of strikes from Paulo Bernardo, Matt O’Riley and an own goal form Jamie Brandon.

Brendan Rodgers will return to the Hoops dugout after serving a touchline ban last time out, and here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest suspension and injury news for both clubs ahead of the contest at Ibrox.

RANGERS INJURY NEWS

 

Ryan Jack

Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: Unknown

Ryan Jack has been sidelined since the beginning of March with a muscle injury. Clement has confirmed that the midfielder will miss Sunday’s Old Firm derby and it remains to be seen when he will return to first-team action.

Danilo

Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown

Danilo is yet to make an appearance for Rangers in 2024 since sustaining a serious knee injury in early December, and the striker is facing a race against time to recover before the season comes to a close.

Oscar Cortes

Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: Unknown

January loan signing Oscar Cortes (pictured on the right) is still unavailable for selection as he continues to recover from a “severe” muscle injury sustained against Kilmarnock on February 28.

Kieran Dowell

Status: Out
Type of injury: Foot
Possible return date: Unknown

Kieran Dowell underwent an operation on a foot injury at the end of January and the midfielder remains unavailable for selection.

Ridvan Yilmaz

Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: April 7 (vs. Celtic)

Ridvan Yilmaz picked up a hamstring injury with Turkey during the international break and subsequently missed Rangers’ win over Hibs last weekend. Clement has since revealed that he is “not sure” if the left-back, who has taken part in individual training, will recover in time, and an assessment will be made ahead of kickoff.

Abdallah Sima

Status: Available
Previous injury: Thigh
Return date: April 7 (vs. Celtic)

Clement has confirmed that Abdallah Sima “is fit enough to start” but cannot play the full 90 minutes, so the Gers boss will make a decision on when he feels the striker can make the best impact on Sunday – Sima made a 10-minute cameo appearances as a substitute last weekend.

CELTIC INJURY NEWS

Callum McGregor

Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Achilles
Possible return date: April 7 (vs. Celtic)

Captain Callum McGregor has returned to training three to four weeks ahead of schedule after being out with an Achilles injury since the end of February. A late call will be made on his availability following a final training session on Saturday.

Luis Palma

Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Calf
Possible return date: April 7 (vs. Celtic)

Luis Palma has missed each of Celtic’s last four games with a calf injury, but the winger has returned to training this week and is in contention to return to the matchday squad on Sunday.

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RANGERS VS. CELTIC SUSPENSION LIST

Rangers and Celtic have no suspended players for this match.

Celtic Face Wait On Whether Club Will Sell Loan Star

Idah has scored some big goals for Celtic since joining the club on a loan deal until the end of the season from Norwich in the January transfer window.

He has five goals in eight Scottish Premiership appearances and Celtic are considering signing him on a permanent deal in the summer.

However, it has been claimed that Celtic will have to wait until the end of the season before knowing whether Norwich want to sell him.

 

Norwich are keeping tabs on Idah’s performances and are yet to make up their mind about his future at the club.

The Canaries signed Sydney van Hooijdonk on loan in January and want to assess how he does until the end of the season.

A decision on Idah will only be made by the Canaries after the end of the ongoing campaign.

Norwich also want to be sure about which division they will be playing in next season as they are in the hunt for the playoffs in the Championship at the moment.

7 signs of unshakeable Celtic belief to see off Rangers en route to another title

What was it Meatloaf once chanted, 12 out of 13 titles, ain’t bad?

The legendary soft-rock star was dealing in single figures on his famous hit, of course, but a win at Ibrox on Sunday and Celtic will start to believe another title is going to rest in the east end once more. And there’s a tangible sense that good vibes are emanating from the green side of the city ahead of their season-defining duel with Philippe Clement‘s side.

There have been setbacks this season but Celtic travel to face Rangers knowing a vintage display coupled with a rousing end to the season will give them every shot of lifting another title. The stakes are mammoth and there are multiple reasons why Celtic players, punters and pundits reckon they will once again emerge victorious when it matters most. Record Sport taps into the mood music surrounding the champions.

14-1

Brendan Rodgers’ epic record in this fixture is the beacon of hope which all Celtic fans follow. It has been an imperfect season for Scottish football’s dominant force but they have left their biggest rivals on the deck twice this season. Michael Beale’s Rangers end game was accelerated by Celtic’s win at Ibrox in September and Kyogo and Paulo Bernardo’s brilliance consigned Philippe Clement to his first defeat in December. It’s hard to quantify exactly what gives Rodgers his edge but fans often point to his cerebral calm in rejigging his 10 men back at Ibrox in 2018 to beat Rangers in a game which all-but guaranteed the title. Calmness amid the madness is Rodgers’ calling card.

Reo rockets

Celtic fans during the early woes of their botched 10-in-a-row pursuit would rue the absence of individuals amid the collectives error-strewn displays which saw Steven Gerrard’s Rangers romp to title glory by 25 points. But Reo Hatate’s missing guile has been felt and the difference this time around is his return alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers was seismic in the 3-0 win over Livingston. The Japan international was sprightly and his knack for finding pockets of space will be vital if he gets the nod at Ibrox. Celtic fans adore him and the maverick qualities he brings to their team.

Winning time

You have to go all the way back to August 2021 for the last time Rangers landed a signature Premiership victory over their great rivals. Yes, the 3-0 win in May 2023 was resounding but it mattered little for Beale and Co as Celtic had romped to a second consecutive crown long before they got off the bus at Ibrox. The sense is Clement’s side are here to stay but another win for the champions would be seismic in the race for glory. Rangers will have personal demons to battle as well as the opposition on Sunday.

Kyo-GOAL

It’s obvious but stopping Kyogo is something which has been beyond Rangers in recent times as seven goals in 2023 attests to. The critique of the Japan international has been a lack of involvement, at times, this season, however, that becomes his greatest strength when duking it out against Rangers. Connor Goldson constantly risks a crick in his neck as he seeks to keep tabs on the whereabouts of the striker who is never in the one place for long. He’s famed for his darting runs and finishes from close range but his two winners against Rangers this season have been outside the box. A man who is hard to pin down.

Space is key

Celtic have still to banish their Champions League blues but there were green shoots of recovery in the three home games against Lazio, Atletico Madrid and Feyenoord. A win, a draw and a defeat which appeared incomprehensible showed Rodgers’ side were able to compete, to an extent. And Celtic have been strong for long spells of the two games against Rangers. It appears this Celtic team is stronger when the game opens up. And while Clement isn’t against going direct he’s also willing to roll the dice with an aggressive press which proved their undoing against Benfica.

Wing kings

When you’re itching for a reliable right-sided winger and two come along at once. Rodgers regards James Forrest as the club’s best but the veteran wide man’s best days are behind him. Liel Abada departed but the chance to impress has emboldened the two leading candidates. Yang has come alive in recent weeks and appeared primed for a major breakthrough before his red card against Hearts.

But Nicolas Kuhn has quelled early worries as he put his dental trauma behind him with three consecutive standout displays ahead of the visit to Ibrox. Daizen Maeda is a banker to start against James Tavernier and the German – who is quicker than a hiccup – will be desperate to take on Ridvan Yilmaz or Borna Barisic.

Bench warmer

And, for the first time this season, Celtic appear to boast strength in depth. in reserve. Yang, Adam Idah, Paulo Bernardo and Luis Palma will likely be options in reserve and the era of the five subs makes it imperative to be able to shift the game. Rodgers has a knack of game-changing changes in this fixture and has options to do so again this time around.

Kennedy’s rallying call from Ibrox was, “We’ll Be Ready.”

JOHN KENNEDY insists Celtic will be ready for Ibrox on Sunday after safely manoeuvring the Livingston minefield.

Strikes from Paulo Bernardo and Matt O’Riley plus an own goal from Jamie Brandon saw the champions ease to a 3-0 victory over David Martindale’s scrappers following a scoreless first-half.

Kennedy, taking over the touchline duties with manager Brendan Rodgers banished to the stand as he served a one-game SFA suspension, was delighted the players didn’t hit the panic button in a dour opening period when the visitors had to wait until the second minute of stoppage-time to at last get a shot on target.

Kyogo Furuhashi twisted and turned inside the box before unleashing an angled low drive which saw Shamal George somersault to his right to beat the ball to safety.

Thankfully, the Hoops maintained their concentration and the breakthrough effort arrived shortly after the turnaround when the keeper produced anoter stunning stop to push away a close-range drive from comeback Bhoy Reo Hatate.

A superb low whiplash strike from substitute Bernardo doubled the advantage and O’Riley nonchalantly rolled No.3 into the opposition’s net to bring down the curtain on a job well done.

Kennedy, who was delighted the team’s first shut-out in seven games, said: “What we were pretty much focusing on was the performance. Coming here, it’s always easy to get wrapped up in the pitch, but our focus was purely football.

“I think you saw that from the players. At half-time, we could have been a goal or two up, but we just had to be patient.

News of Livingston’s matchup with Celtics is confirmed, and Reo Hatate is back in the mix.