2018-04-15: Celtic 4-0 TheRangers, Scottish Cup

Trivia

• Scottish Cup Semi-final;
• Motherwell beat Aberdeen in other semi-final
• Celtic still on course for back-to-back trebles.
• Celtic got two penalties from arch-Hun referee Madden! Incredible!
• It’s the third Rangers manager that Rodgers has sent a team out to pump by four goals in past 18mths. Murty joins Warburton and Caixinha.
• Former Celtic striker Lassad Nouioui has suffered a cardiac arrest whilst training with his current club Toledo. The 32 year old is inintensive care after being taken to hospital. Let’s hope he recovers.
• Sevco boss Graeme Murty said that his players CHEERED when they were drawn against Celtic. Comment backfired after the result.
• Balloons released by mainly Sevco fans at start of the game in honour of a young Sevco fan who died young. RIP. The balloons though got in the way and the game was stopped at 15mins so the players could burst them to clear up the pitch.
• Dembele could have taken second penalty but gave it to Ntcham to take. Charitable move.
• Pre-match: "The sound that came out of our changing room when the draw came through was raucous and loud. I think that is indicative of where the squad are, they're flowing with confidence just now." Graeme Murty
• Sevco duo Alfredo Morelos and Greg Docherty involved in furious tunnel bust-up after Celtic thrashing
• Sevco were battling to avoid Brendan Rodgers bringing up a first Celtic 10-in-a-row when the sides meet in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final. Celtic had never before had a 10-game unbeaten run across the country’s three major competitions in facing up to an Ibrox opponent and there has never been such a 10 in the Premier era that began in 1975-76 and ushered in four league meetings a season – but Rodgers secured the accolade this weekend
• Police chiefs have instructed football bosses to avoid a potential league title decider between Celtic and Rangers. Cops warned that the fixture, originally planned for the weekend of April 21/22 should be put back a week amid safety fears if Celtic do clinch a seventh consecutive title.
• Celtic are hoping to push on with plans for a match day fan zone area for supporters by buying up a patch of land near their Parkhead stadium.The council-owned land, currently derelict, is located on Janefield Street and is used as a car park. Glasgow City Council have owned the land since the 1940s, and Celtic are hopeful of securing ownership of the space to push ahead with the project, which has been in the works for some time. Good idea long proposed by many who have experienced this in away matches in Europe.
• Sir Billy Connolly has described himself as the “least patriotic man in the world” and said he dislikes people who “write England off because they’re Scottish”. “I’m the least patriotic man in the world. I do love Scotland, but if the love for your country is all you have, you’re in a desperate state. “I dislike people that write England off because they’re Scottish. It’s unfair and ­brutal.”
• Ex-Partick Thistle manager John Lambie has passed away. A great character in the game who epitomised much about Scottish football, he will be missed. RIP
• Commonwealth Games is on in Australia: No one seems to really be bothered.
• St Mirren promoted the day before to SP; Man City won their league in England.

• Post-match: Kenny Miller and Lee Wallace look to have played their last games for Sevco, amid reports the Ibrox pair have been sacked and suspended respectively. The 38-year-old is expected to be paid off after a bust-up with Graeme Murty in the aftermath of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Celtic, while Wallace has also been hammered for an angry post-match outburst. Murty is believed to have demanded the removal of Miller while club captain Wallace has been suspended pending an internal probe.

Review

" A proper Scottish Cup shellacking"
Radio Scotland

"We just knew as soon as we turned up we were going to win that. They can cheer as much as they want. I don't think they'll be cheering tonight."
Scott Brown

(Graham Speirs – Journalist)
Utter humiliation for Rangers today at Hampden. Treated with contempt by Celtic. The root of it is not Graeme Murty’s fault: a youth coach placed in charge by an Ibrox board singularly incapable of giving their team and its supporters a manager. A straightforward incompetence.

“The pressure is always there, you can’t try and hide from it or pretend it is not there. You carry the responsibility for millions of supporters, your players, your club, your board. It is there. It is not going away."
Brendan Rodgers

Pre-match: "The sound that came out of our changing room when the draw came through was raucous and loud. I think that is indicative of where the squad are, they're flowing with confidence just now."
Graeme Murty

“That was a game that they [Sevco] cheered for but you should be careful what you wish for in case it comes back to bite you on the a**e,”
Leigh Griffiths.

(Wilfred Benitez15 of KDS)

(cjthunderbird of KDS)
My top pish myself laughing moments from watching it on telly today.

1. The Morales miss. That was after I was already laughing at their best chance coming from a skewed clearance off our own defender's shin. I almost pished myself.

2. Graham Dorrans trying to wind up Broony in the first half. What a useless, boneheaded tactic that was.

3. Bobby Madden having to give two penalties to Celtic. And Dembélé scored one with a chip. The other he gave away it was such a scoosh to him.

4. The text I got from my mate asking what time I wanted in the sweep for Halliday to get hooked or sent off. Then a text 30 seconds later saying "Never mind". Then watching Halliday call Murty a effing bawbag on live telly as he got marshalled to his seat through a Rangers bench of the most miserable looking bunch I've ever seen.

5. The triangles that the Celtic defence passed round Morales for far too long before he realised what was happening and about punched himself in the face for getting taken for a floof.

(levzhalliday of KDS forum)
What a result yesterday, don't think it could have gone better! Shame we only scored 4…

– Gordon stepped up when it mattered
– Brown absolutely untouchable. When he won that 50/50 and the started swaggering away, unreal stuff
– C Mac is maybe one of the most underrated Celtic players
– Rogic proving again he's a big game player
– Dembele absolutely rag dolled their defenders, his hold up play was brilliant. That penalty
– Griffiths winding them up with the ball on his head, oh my days
– Ntcham's penalty was perfect
– Lost it when the Celtic fans were chanting "Andy Halliday, Halliday, Andy Halliday" hahaha!

This was the game they cheered for, absolutely comical stuff. Game by game it's becoming clear to them just how far behind us they really are. Murty has obviously lost the dressing room, they're capitulating fast. Morelos is a total donkey and couldn't finish a bag of Starburst. His near greeting face when he missed his chances honestly fills me with utter joy. Some Rangers fans comparing Dorrans to Brown, outrageous!

It's getting to the point where they may need us to win the cup so they can get European football, you honestly cannot write this.

One of the greatest times to be a Celtic fan and I am absolutely loving it!

(fatboab of KDS)

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Celtic 4-0 Rangers: Dominant Hoops sweep Gers aside to book cup final slot

RONNIE ESPLIN
Published: 16:56 Sunday 15 April 2018

Celtic hammered hapless 10-man Rangers 4-0 at Hampden Park to book a William Hill Scottish Cup final date with Motherwell next month.

Tom Rogic swept the Hoops into the lead in the 22nd minute and fellow midfielder Callum McGregor made it 2-0 with a drive in the 38th minute of a startlingly one-sided encounter.
Ross McCrorie is shown the red card by referee Bobby Madden after bringing down Moussa Dembele in the penalty area. Picture: SNS Group
Ross McCrorie is shown the red card by referee Bobby Madden after bringing down Moussa Dembele in the penalty area. Picture: SNS Group

Five minutes after the break Gers defender Ross McCrorie was given a straight red card by referee Bobby Madden for denying Moussa Dembele an obvious goalscoring opportunity, and from the resultant penalty the French striker scored ‘Panenka’ style for his seventh goal in nine Old Firm games.

The Ibrox side rallied in desperation but midfielder Olivier Ntcham scored a fourth from the spot in the 78th minute with Graeme Murty’s side fortunate to finish with no further damage.

If Murty harboured any prospects of keeping the job next season then they were surely heavily damaged by a Hoops side who have now gone 10 games unbeaten against Rangers under Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic beat Motherwell in the Betfred Cup final in November and will meet the Fir Park side again in the showpiece finale on May 19.
Daniel Candeias cuts a dejected figure as Celtic celebrate Tom Rogic's opener. Picture: Getty Images
Daniel Candeias cuts a dejected figure as Celtic celebrate Tom Rogic's opener. Picture: Getty Images

They will be strong favourites to win a historic second successive treble, their seventh Ladbrokes Premiership title in a row a mere formality.

The Parkhead side made their intentions known right from the kick-off.

In the fifth minute of a typically frenetic start to this Glasgow derby, Dembele volleyed a Ntcham cross off the post with the Light Blues defence getting the ball to safety.

The Hoops, sharper in possession and quicker in thought, dominated possession.

A couple of Celtic corners flashed across Rangers’ six-yard box before Rogic took a pass from James Forrest and turned back on to his right foot, leaving McCrorie for dead, and then from 14 yards guided the ball almost casually past Rangers goalkeeper Wes Foderingham

Moments later, the Australia international had another chance but this time his weak effort was caught by Foderingham.

Celtic were simply playing at a higher tempo and in the 32nd minute Ntcham fired just wide from the edge of the box.

A timid-looking Rangers could not get hold of the ball for any length of time.

However, it was a horror mistake by Rangers defender Russell Martin which handed Celtic their second. His attempted clearance from Kieran Tierney’s cross went straight to McGregor who gleefully and quickly curled the ball past Foderingham.

Midfielder Andy Halliday was immediately replaced by Josh Windass and he made his unhappiness clear as he took his seat in the technical area.

Any thoughts of a comeback ended early in the second half when McCrorie pulled back Dembele as he raced through on goal and after he was given his marching orders, Dembele dinked his spot kick down the middle with Foderingham diving to his left.

Bruno Alves was put on for Daniel Candeias and the veteran Portuguese defender forced a good save from Craig Gordon with a header, seconds after the Hoops keeper had made a similarly impressive save from Alfredo Morelos.

The Colombian striker then missed a great chance, hitting the ball straight at Gordon, after Celtic defender Mikael Lustig’s sliced clearance had come off his own crossbar.

Forrest bent a shot wide of the target before Rangers substitute Jason Holt, on for Graham Dorrans, conceded a penalty for a foul on Patrick Roberts, replacement for Forrest, and Ntcham despatched the spot-kick into the corner of the net.

Celtic: Craig Gordon; Mikael Lustig, Dedryck Boyata, Kristoffer Ajer, Kieran Tierney; Scott Brown, Olivier Ntcham; James Forrest (Patrick Roberts 73), Tom Rogic (Scott Sinclair 60), Callum McGregor; Moussa Dembele (Leigh Griffiths 79). Subs not used: Scott Bain, Jozo Simunovic, Eboue Kouassi, Odsonne Edouard.

Goals: Rogic 22; McGregor 38; Dembele 52; Ntcham 78.

Booked: Lustig, Brown.

Rangers: Wes Foderingham; James Tavernier, Ross McCrorie, Russell Martin, Declan John; Andy Halliday (Josh Windass 41), Greg Docherty, Graeme Dorrans (Jason Holt); Daniel Candeias (Bruno Alves 53), Alfredo Morelos, Jamie Murphy. Subs not used: Jak Alnwick, Lee Hodson, Kenny Miller, Jason Cummings.

Booked: Docherty, Dorrans, Morelos, Tavernier.

Sent off: McCrorie.

Referee: Bobby Madden

Old Firm Facts on Celtic 4 Rangers 0, Hampden balloons and comfortable doings
Old Firm Facts reflects on yesterday's Scottish Cup semi final, a match that really did have everything …

Rangers duo Alfredo Morelos and Greg Docherty involved in furious tunnel bust-up after Celtic thrashing
The pair had to be separated by teammates as they clashed moments after the final whistle yesterday.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/rangers-duo-alfredo-morelos-greg-12370548
ByKeith JacksonDavid McCarthy

Furious Rangers team-mates fought amongst themselves in the Hampden tunnel yesterday after a Scottish Cup thrashing from Celtic.
Record Sport Online can reveal Greg Docherty and Alfredo Morelos had to be pulled apart as they clashed in front of stunned onlookers moments after the final whistle had sounded on the 4-0 derby demolition.
The pair were spotted swapping angry words as they made their way off the pitch with Portuguese veteran Bruno Alves acting as a peacemaker.

But the bad blood spilled over as they made their way inside amidst chaotic scenes.
One witness revealed: “Emotions were running high. Morelos and Docherty went for each other and it was just as well there were enough people around to split them up before things got completely out of hand.
“To make matters even more embarrassing some of Celtic’s backroom team were present at the time and they saw what went on.”

It’s understood there were more heated exchanges inside the Rangers dressing room as tempers boiled over after a humiliating defeat to the champions.
Andy Halliday was also seen shouting in the direction of manager Graeme Murty after being substituted before the break, shortly after Celtic had romped into a 2-0 lead.

Murty insisted he would let the dust settle before speaking to the player as he apologised for the Hampden horrorshow.
The manager added: “I wouldn’t have been happy. I completely understand his frustration but I was reacting to a situation in the game and I was looking at a different shape to the team.
“Andy’s frustrated but I’ll see him in the week and have a chat and take things from there.
“It’s a frustration thing. If you deal with people in an emotional state, you get an emotional response.”

Murty admitted he experienced the lowest point of his career as he watched Celtic hammer his team.
The Ibrox boss refused to discuss his own future in the wake of his side’s abject display which saw them play the last 40 minutes with 10 men after young Ross McCrorie was red carded for bringing down Moussa Dembele for a penalty which gifted Celtic their third goal.
Pointedly, Murty also refused to answer if he felt his side had let him down but he admitted he couldn’t blame the support for walking out on them long before the end of the capitulation, which had earlier seen him hook Andy Halliday before the break – a decision which prompted a furious reaction from the recalled midfielder.
The Rangers manager said: “It’s a lonely place standing on the sidelines when that’s going on. I don’t think words are enough to convey how I’m feeling right now.
“I would apologise to the fans for the game. I would ask for the patience and ask them to keep believing but we can’t keep asking it.

“We have to put a performance on worthy of their support. We didn’t do enough to make them want to stay in the stadium today.
“There was emotion, anger, disappointment in the dressing room – all the things you would expect after a game like that.
“It’s about putting all of them into positives to power you through to the end of the season.
“But this is the worst I have ever felt in my career, without a doubt.”
Asked why Rangers had gone down so meekly, Murty admitted he didn’t have an answer.
He said: “There’s lots of things to look at. I don’t think we got close enough to them. We didn’t put them under enough pressure and allowed them to play through us too easily.
“All four goals were easily avoidable just through basic, good defending and in the second half, we gave them the penalty and sending off which makes their job far, far easier.

“I’ll have a look at it. There are things we can all get better at but it’s too raw right now to go into it. We’ll look at it in the cold light of day.
“We were just passive. I don’t know why. I asked them to get into a shape and the structure was there to allow them to go and press but when it comes to the game, you have to get up closer to your opponent than we did in the first period.
“It seems to be the case at times that we’ve had really good opportunities to claw something back from the game and we haven’t managed to do it. I’ve said we have to be clinical in both boxes and I don’t think we managed to do that at all today. Craig made a couple of good saves but we should have scored at least one. I know it’s scant consolation right now but we were not worthy of getting anything from the game today.”
Despite the defeat – this was the 10th game running that Rangers had failed to beat their rivals – the Ibrox gaffer remains adamant that there’s no mental block about facing Celtic.
He said: “No not at all. There is belief in the squad that they can challenge Celtic but I didn’t feel it today, not in the first half.

“I felt it in the last game at home but that belief keeps getting challenged and we have to step up.
“It’s our job to make sure this doesn’t have a bearing in the final league games.
“The players need to respond – not just against Celtic. There are big games ahead of us and we have to get a response between now and the end of the season of we want to finish as we should.”
But when asked if he can see how the gulf between the two Glasgow clubs can be closed, he answered: “That’s the million dollar question isn’t it? You need really good recruitment, really good tactics and with more passion and belief than we showed today.”

So did the players let him down? By not answering, he answered it, even if all he said was: “I’m not going to answer that one. You’ll have to ask the players. We all need to have a look at our contributions.”
There is now a huge doubt over whether he’ll be given the opportunity to try to close the gap but yesterday Murty wasn’t prepared to discuss that, saying: “

“I’m not going to talk about my role. I think it would be churlish and selfish to talk about my own situation.”

BBC

Celtic took a huge step towards securing back-to-back trebles as they ruthlessly swept Rangers aside to reach the Scottish Cup final.
Celtic were commanding against passive opponents, with Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor scoring before half-time.
Rangers' woes worsened after the break, with Ross McCrorie dismissed for pulling back Moussa Dembele, who converted the resulting penalty.
Olivier Ntcham added the fourth, also from the spot, before the end.
With Dembele hitting the post early on, Ntcham firing wide and McGregor driving over, the scoreline might have been more emphatic for Celtic.

Rangers gathered only frustration and angst, with Andy Halliday hollering his frustration from the bench after being replaced by Josh Windass before half-time, and Daniel Candeias heading straight up the tunnel after he was substituted.
Celtic are now one league win away from retaining their seventh consecutive Premiership title, and face Motherwell in next month's Scottish Cup final, having already secured the League Cup last November.
Football matches are won and lost in a variety of ways. It is arguable that Rangers lost this one before kick-off.
Tactically, Rangers manager Graeme Murty appeared to get it wrong, and played into Celtic's hands. How they exploited it.
A midfield three sat deep to cater for James Forrest, McGregor and Rogic, a trio of sprightly attacking midfielders. It backfired spectacularly.
Celtic, in contrast, looked sharp from the off and almost took the lead when Dembele volleyed Ntcham's cross off the upright.
Rangers escaped, but it was the briefest of respites. Brendan Rodgers' side swarmed forward, exploiting Rangers' timid approach.
The opener soon arrived, when Dembele ran in behind and laid back for Forrest who found Rogic inside the box. The Australian, with typical poise, swivelled away from McCrorie and found the corner of the net with a smooth finish.
Rogic is a big talent who delivers on the big stage; he has now scored a goal in each of his three Old Firm appearances this season.
He had a better opportunity moments later, but fired straight at Wes Foderingham with Rangers looking increasingly ragged. They were being brutally ripped apart.
Celtic's movement was impressive. They were determined and crisp in their passing. Scott Brown and Ntcham were allowed to stroll around midfield with quite startling ease.
They bossed this, and added a second when Kieran Tierney danced past Candeias and crossed towards Dembele.
Russell Martin's body shape was all wrong as he tried to intervene and he haplessly skewed the ball straight to McGregor, who finished emphatically beyond Foderingham.
At that point, it seemed an abacus might be required to keep count of the chances and goals Celtic might rack up.
Murty had to confront the reality of the situation, and he chose to replace Halliday before half-time. It was a horrible moment for the midfielder, but only added to the glee of the Celtic support.
That joy improved further after the break when McCrorie failed to cope with Dembele's power and pace, pulling the Celtic striker down in the box. It was a chastening afternoon for the young Rangers defender, who had no answer to Dembele's strength and guile.
McCrorie was ordered off before the Celtic striker cheekily dinked the spot kick away from Foderingham.
Rangers did improve for a spell, and had three glorious chances in succession. All three fell to Alfredo Morelos, but Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon produced three wonderful stops to deny him.
Celtic's threat eased a touch with the game over as a contest, but they still added a fourth when Rangers substitute Jason Holt clattered into Patrick Roberts inside the box.
Ntcham took this one, and confidently drilled home into the corner.
That put the seal on a thrilling afternoon for Celtic, who moved ever closer to the historic achievement of back-to-back trebles.
For Rangers, this was a bruising occasion. One that will leave them with lingering hurt and significant questions to answer.