Rumour Mill: Celtic to keep Ronny Deila | Old Firm fall out

Kenny Miller has said he was '˜not surprised' by Rangers' first-half dominance over Celtic, Ronny Deila says he is focused on winning the league instead of losing his job and Mark Warburton believes Rangers will need to spend to match Celtic next season.

Kenny Miller opens the scoring for Rangers against Celtic at Hampden Park yesterday during the Scottish Cup Semi-Final. Picture: John Devlin

Celtic will not sack Deila - report

The BBC is reporting that Celtic have no plans to sack under pressure manager Ronny Deila following

yesterday’s Old Firm defeat.

It is understood the Parkhead club will focus on retaining the Premiership title with Deila in charge. (BBC)

Rangers deserved win says Kenny Miller

Veteran Gers striker Kenny Miller has said that the club deserved their 5-4 penalties victory during the Old Firm derby as “we imposed our game on them from the first whistle.”

Adding that he was “not surprised” by the club’s first-half dominance, Miller said: “We knew we would have to run harder, faster and longer, but if we did the right things we could cause them problems and get opportunities to score. Over the piece I thought we deserved it.”

Kenny Miller opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a shot that beat Hoops goalkeeper Craig Gordon from close range, with the game finishing 2-2 before Rangers’ victory on penalties.The Scotsman

Rangers keeper knew which way Brown would hit penalty

Wes Foderingham says he knew how to save Celtic midfielder Scott Brown’s penalty.

The Rangers goalkeeper hinted that Brown had been found out, telling Rangers TV after the game that he knew which way he would put his penalty.

He said that he and Rangers goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart had studied Brown, and were prepared for the spot kick.

Foderingham said: “We knew he was going to go that way, and it was just a case of me choosing to go that way. Thankfully, it worked out like that.”

Ronny Deila faces sack after Rangers defeat

Celtic manager Ronny Deila says his main goal is to win the title.

After his club’s loss to arch rivals Rangers, Deila said: “Today I am very disappointed. I’m not thinking about that [my future as Celtic manager] at all. I know why the question is coming but again now we have to just lift ourselves after this disappointment and get the league over the line.

- David Moyes has again been linked with the Celtic manager’s job with the Telegraph reporting that he would want guarentees over player recruitment before taking the job

- Critics including ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton had called for Deila’s resignation immediately after the game.

- Kieran Tierney insists that the players and not Ronny Deila should take the blame for their Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers

Rangers need to spend for Premiership

Mark Warburton has warned that Rangers will still have to spend heavily to match Celtic in the Premiership next season.

The Ibrox manager made it clear to the club’s board that they cannot allow Sunday’s dramatic win over Celtic to lull them into a false sense of complacency over the amount of investment still required to pose a serious challenge.

He said: “We have been making rapid strides. There will be down times, there will be bad days as well, so you have to make sure you are ready for them and try and recruit wisely, get the environment right and keep on pushing forward.” The Scotsman

Five things we learned from the Old Firm semi-final >>

“No excuse” for miss - Patrick Roberts

The Manchester City winger on loan to Scottish champions Celtic has admitted there are “no excuses” for his missed chance in the club’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers. Shortly after the half-hour mark Leigh Griffiths’ shot bashed back off the post and Roberts was left with the seemingly simple task of converting the rebound past goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, who was still picking himself off the ground. But the 19-year-old prodded his effort into the side-netting.

He said: “Any other day, I would put that away. It just wasn’t meant to be today, obviously. I’m just devastated, we all are.” The Scotsman

Rangers will be favourites for Cup Final says Stubbs

Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs conceded Premiership-bound Rangers will go into next month’s Scottish Cup final as favourites to beat his side after the Ibrox club’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Old Firm rivals Celtic.

Hibs had clinched their own place in the final just 24 hours previously in similar fashion following a 0-0 draw after extra-time against Dundee United.

Former Celtic defender Stubbs had admitted that on a personal level it wouldn’t get any better than facing his old club on May 21, a scenario which he had been denied on two previous occasions. Edinburgh Evening News

Dundee United director resigns

Justine Mitchell, the sister of chairman and majority shareholder Stephen Thompson, announced her resignation on Sunday afternoon.

Her surprise announcement, made via social networking site Twitter, came just hours after Dundee United’s Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Hibs.

Her Tweet read: “I have resigned as director of Dundee Utd. I remain a shareholder, fan & am committed to my work with the community and DUWFC.” (The Courier)

McInnes wants Aberdeen cup success next season

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes wants the Dons to earn more cup successes in future following the club’s League Cup victory in 2014. Aberdeen could only look on as Celtic, Rangers, Dundee United and Hibernian competed for their spots in the Scottish Cup Final this season.

McInnes said: “We want to make sure that is not the only trophy we are celebrating here and we have the potential to win more.

“While we are pleased with where we are and the players deserve praise, we are still looking to improve. Hopefully, we are reflecting next year on more successes.” (The Press and Journal)

Conservative MSP faces backlash over Rangers Tweet

Scottish Tory finance minister Murdo Fraser Tweeted after the game: “Rangers 5 Celtic 4 - The Queen’s 11 deliver Her Majesty the perfect birthday present #ScottishCup #GSTQ”

His comments provoked a strong response on Twitter, with some users urging the MSP to keep football and politics separate. (Daily Record)

NEWS IN BRIEF

- Rangers fans painted the kerbs outside of Glasgow’s Bar 67 and The Phoenix - often frequented by Celtic supporters - red, white and blue ahead of the Old Firm clash yesterday morning. Celtic fans later turned up to re-paint the kerbs in green and white. (Glasgow Evening Times)

- Nine people were arrested during yesterday’s Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final for “minor public order offences” such as breach of the peace, sectarian singing and pitch incursion, Police Scotland have revealed. (Various)

- Dundee United midfielder Paul Paton has apologised to fans for Tweeting his preference for Rangers over Celtic during the weekend. (Daily Record)