Ronny Deila blasts ‘stupid’ Ryan McGowan tackle

John Guidetti squares up to Ryan McGowan after his challenge on Liam Henderson. Picture: SNS

Ronny Deila’s side beat United 2-0 in their Scottish League Cup final at Hampden on Sunday and any thoughts of Tayside revenge all but ended in the 17th minute when Celtic defender Jason Denayer headed in a free-kick from Anthony Stokes.

In the third meeting between the clubs in 11 days – the fourth comes in the league at Celtic Park on Sunday – Leigh Griffiths, Kris Commons and Virgil van Dijk added further goals.

In the last two clashes four players had been sent off, and another two were added last night. Stokes was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Paul Paton before United defender Ryan McGowan was sent off for a bad tackle on Celtic’s late substitute Liam Henderson.

Celtic manager Deila said of McGowan’s red card: “It was a stupid tackle. We need to get these things out of football.

“It was a youngster trying a little trick in the corner. You could have stayed there and kept him out wide instead of going in with both feet. He could have injured him for life.”

On Stokes’ red card, Deila added: “His mouth was bleeding after a challenge from Paton and he reacted. We have to see it again if it is a red card.

Celtic set up a semi-final meeting with Inverness at Hampden on the weekend of 18/19 April.