I watched Celtic beat Rangers on penalties and noted crowd consequence, case for Tavernier and O'Neill dilemma
Our three key takeaways as crowd trouble mars Celtic’s penalty shootout win over Rangers at Ibrox
Celtic sealed their place in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup by overcoming Rangers on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Ibrox.
The stalemate offered little in the way of goalmouth action, as both sides struggled to find the quality that would open up the other, though both Daizen Maeda and Emmanuel Fernandez had goals disallowed for either side during the game.
Four perfect penalties from the visitors sealed the win in front of the Copland Road end of the stadium, with James Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama firing their penalties over the bar for Rangers.
The game was marred by crowd trouble, though, with reports of Celtic supporters storming the turnstiles at Ibrox prior to kick-off, before their team’s full-time celebrations were halted as both sets of fans invaded the pitch, while players and staff were rushed down the tunnel as trouble spilt over in Glasgow.
Here are our three key takeaways from Celtic’s shootout win against Rangers...
Crowd consequence
Both clubs have battled to get away fans back into the stadium for these world-famous Glasgow derbies following their reduction due to safety concerns. It’s hard to say in hindsight with what happened after the game, but the atmosphere at Ibrox pre-match was electric, with over 7,000 Celtic fans in the Broomloan stand.
As someone who has covered this fixture a fair few times now, the scenes pre-game was proved exactly why the Old Firm atmosphere make it a ‘bucket list’ ticket for football fans across the globe. Two of the most vocal, die-hard fanbases. Football is, and always should be, for the fans. But if a section of them can’t be trusted to behave in an adult manner, then what alternative is there but to face the consequences?
As Tomas Cvancara picked up the ball ready to take the final penalty in the shootout, my gantry neighbour expressed his fear that should the Czech striker place his shot beyond Jack Butland, then both sets of fans may enter the field of play, and it played out exactly as he had thought. Following the game, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill said he was surprised the first question asked of him was regarding the post-match scenes, but how could it not be? These scenes will be viewed across the world will be deemed as “ugly” - and rightly so, because they were.
At the end of the game, the discussion should have been about how great it was to see away fans back in numbers at Europe’s biggest derby, and how Rangers and Celtic fans could hopefully look forward to a larger allocation in the seasons to come. Instead, the portion of fans who deemed it worthy to enter the field of play, approach players and throw flares at opposition fans may have just ensured those who simply want to support their team are forced to fight over tiny allocations. It simply has to be better.
The Martin O’Neill conundrum
It’s as clear as crystal that O’Neill is a bona fide winner. It’s in his make-up. Without him, it’s fair to say that Celtic would be further behind in the title race than they already are. What is equally as clear, though, is that he won’t be Celtic’s manager beyond May. Without his love for the club, it’s fair to say the 74-year-old would be enjoying his occasional stints on talkSPORT morning radio with a nice glass of red at night - and who could blame him. But he threw himself back into management because Celtic needed him. It’s admirable, and what makes him so adored on the Parkhead terraces.
Managing Celtic at the moment isn’t easy either - just ask Wilfried Nancy. Yet somehow, O’Neill continues to answer every question thrown at him. The news that Callum McGregor had joined Arne Engels, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston on the list of absentees meant that many felt this was Rangers’ game to lose. But despite the home side’s dominance, it was O’Neill’s Celtic who waltzed out of their rivals’ home as the victors.
He has kept Celtic in the title race and fired them into the final four of the Scottish Cup despite a big list of injuries and chaos surrounding him, and it should not be underestimated. Clubs that are forced to employ three managers in one season tend not to be chasing trophies, yet Celtic are still somehow in the mix for two. In the summer, the Celtic board must appoint a new chairman, a new director of football, a new manager and refresh the squad with a summer revamp. But replacing O’Neill will be far and away the most difficult of them all.
The case for Tavernier
In the post-match press room, captain James Tavernier looked desolate. Head stuck in his phone, he was clearly paying no attention to what was on the screen, but had needed a distraction as he waited for the jubilant Celtic skipper, Liam Scales, to finish up his own post-match interview.
Tavernier has been here too many times before. Cruelly labelled ‘captain disappointment’ by some due to his penchant for uttering the now infamous line after a gut-wrenching Rangers defeat, few have achieved as much as he has in the Ibrox dressing room, but even fewer have been forced to pick up the pieces after defeat more than he has.
He’s won every domestic trophy, became the highest scoring defender in British history with 143 goals during his time at the club and was the key player in a side that led Rangers to the Europa League final in 2022. Even today, his introduction to the pitch in extra time gave Rohl’s side more of an offensive threat. But his penalty miss in the shootout against Celtic will once again see him labelled as the fall guy, which is in danger of becoming his unfortunate, and unfair, legacy.
Dujon Sterling has been preferred at right-back for the last three Old Firm games, while Tavernier was also left out of the starting XI against Hearts last month. His contract is up in the summer, and there is a feeling that this will be his final season in the royal blue. But how will he be viewed in the years to come? Perhaps unfairly, the 34-year-old may be deemed by some as a failed Rangers captain simply because he hasn’t lifted enough trophies during his time at the club. However, perhaps Tavernier’s biggest problem is the loyalty he has shown his current employers, despite the consistent underachievement of those around him. What’s the famous saying about living long enough to see yourself become the villain?
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