Celtic stutter and Rangers stroll in League Cup quarters

Both make it through though

Celtic were needing a quick start against St Johnstone to blow away the blues from Sunday and they got it at McDiarmid Park.

Ki Sung Yueng was involved as the hoops benefitted from two set-pieces that were not properly dealt with and Anthony Stokes and Niall McGinn profited.

These two players combined to make it three and you felt it was all over. And if it wasn’t for Glenn Loovens, it may have been. He isn’t a fan favourite and yet again a lack of concentration allowed Sam Parkin through, although the striker still provided a neat finish.

Mistakes in the backline were again punishing Celtic and threatening to take the shine off a decent start but yet again, it wasn’t just the Glasgow side that made mistakes. The offside flag halted Joe Ledley but the Welshman was clearly onside as he raced free on the St Johnstone goal. Perhaps the glaring presence of Neil Lennon on the touchline pressurised the assistant referee into making the wrong decision!

So, half-time and if the Saints got the next goal, the BBC had a cup tie on their hands.

They got it as Murray Davidson bulleted a header into the top corner as the home fans came to life.

It was the end of the scoring but not the excitement. Gary Hooper could have killed the tie but the game rested on a superb save from Fraser Forster on the 90th minute. Somehow, the big keeper pulled off a reaction save to tip a shot round the post and Saints hearts were probably broken!

So, Celtic through, a lot more issues for Lennon to consider and potentially a great second instalment to come from these two teams this Saturday lunchtime.

Rangers, still buoyant from Sundays win managed to see Kilmarnock off far more comfortably and it emphasises the difference in composure at the back between the two sides.

Killie had plenty of the ball and a few chances but Rangers always looked like being the winner, even though there was an early scare when Killie thought they had taken the lead. The linesman’s flag quickly halted the celebrations and a rearranged Rangers side took control.

1-0 up before the half-hour mark thanks to youngster Andrew Little, ex Killie man Steven Naismith killed the tie in the second half. Rangers were never going to suffer the same histrionics Celtic did but both teams are through…and in cup football, it’s the bottom line.

With the semi-final draw on Friday, will the big Glasgow two meet in the semi?

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