Rangers have defeated Old Firm rivals Celtic in a nail-biting penalty shootout at Hampden Park to reach the final of the Scottish Cup.
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The only other occasion the two sides faced off since 2012 came in last season’s Scottish League Cup semifinal, when Celtic secured a comprehensive 2-0 victory.
Rangers weave delightful patterns in attack but, as many have pointed out this week, their tendency to throw both full-backs upfield in parallel is inviting trouble from a team with Celtic’s experience.
Andy Halliday, McKay, Lee Wallace and substitute Gedion Zelalem scored their penalties for Rangers, with Tavernier and substitute Clark failing.
Barrie McKay had restored Rangers one goal lead with an emphatic 25-yard strike during the first periond of extra-time, only for it to be cancelled out moments after the resart.
The Bhoys lost their crucial Scottish Cup semi-final with Rangers on penalties, after an enthralling back-and-forth encounter at Hampden Park.
Celtic might have had it their own way for the last four years in the Premiership, but this was the match that marked Rangers’ return, not only to the top flight, but as genuine contenders.
“Rangers are very clear in the style they play, we are clear how we play so there is nothing new coming up”.
But Celtic fans aren’t just going to let them get away with it that easily.
Celtic manager Ronny Deila is to leave the Premiership league leaders at the end of the season.
He said: “I felt like I’d let myself down, personally”.
Dave King admitted he was reduced to tears following Rangers’ Old Firm triumph on Sunday – and so were all of his fellow directors. “And they’d be better off keeping him anyway”.
“They’ve been in some dark places over the last four or five years, so it’s tremendous that they can enjoy days like today and last week”.
Now, Pat Bonner – the former Celtic goalkeeper currently serving as a pundit for BBC Sport – has suggested that Tierney was clearly Celtic’s best player, impressing defensively as well as going forward, having played the ball in for Rogic’s equaliser.
A win at the national stadium next month would see Rangers compete in the Europa League qualifiers and Warburton has already intimated that participation in European competition would alter the club’s summer transfer plans. We will see next year what they have to offer.
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“It is a totally different thing to do something over 38 games than to do it over one”.
