Martin O’Neill ‘takes no credit’ as he drops timeline for new Celtic boss after beating Rangers

Martin O’Neill ‘takes no credit’ as he drops timeline for new Celtic boss after beating Rangers

Celtic make their way into the Premier Sports Cup final after an action-packed win over Rangers at Hampden.

Celtic beat Rangers 3-1 as Johnny Kenny’s first half bullet header was added to by a Callum McGregor thunder shot and a Callum Osmand third to send Martin O’Neill to yet another Hampden final.

The game was frought with controversy after Thelo Asgaard was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Celtic defender Anthony Ralston and for the penalty given against the Hoops fullback which forced the game into extra time.

And as another cup final awaits Martin O’Neill, the Celtic boss had his say on the 3-1 win as the Bhoys head to Hampden once again this season.

Martin O’Neill drops timeline for new Celtic boss after beating Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup

Celtic will head to Hampden on the 14th of December to face St Mirren but speaking after beating Rangers, Hoops boss O’Neill had his say on the match officials at the national stadium.

O’Neill told Premier Sports, “That is very nice of you to say, young man, but I have, I shall take no credit whatsoever.

“Seriously, I’ve come in here, we have got a couple of young players who probably don’t really know what it’s all about, and we’ve got some serial winners in there, and that’s really important.

“And the backroom staff for me, were terrific, honestly, really, really terrific. I couldn’t have seen this, you know, I thought you wouldn’t be did they enjoy it? Not one minute.”

And when quizzed on if he will be in charge for the final in December, O’Neill replied, “On a serious note, I would imagine there’s a fortnight break now, next week, at the end of the next week, and I actually think the club would probably be making inroads into getting someone in.”

St Mirren’s Mika Mandron may well regret his Premier Sports Cup comments as Celtic await the final

Celtic’s opponents for the final will be St Mirren for the big showpiece occasion at Hampden in December.

And after watching Celtic beat Rangers 3-1 and the manner of the performance, Mika Mandron may well regret his comments this weekend.

Mandron said of the upcoming final, “When you go in a final, you are in it to win it. Whoever we play next, we are going there to win it, for sure.

“I don’t care who we play. It doesn’t matter at all. That is up there with the best games of my career, for sure.

“But winning the final would surpass it.”

I bet Mandron cares who he’s facing now after watching Celtic under O’Neill over the last two games.

Celtic reached the Premier Sports Cup final after beating Rangers in extra time.

The Hoops started brightly and pinned the Rangers defence back before thinking they had taken the lead thanks to a bizarre own goal, but it was ruled out after an incredibly tight VAR call.

However, it didn’t take long for the defending champions to take the lead for a second time as Johnny Kenny’s bullet header from Arne Engels’ corner.

Rangers were then reduced to 10-men after a horror tackle from Thelo Asgaard on Anthony Ralston resulted in him being shown a straight red card.

Despite the man advantage, the Hoops had to withstand increasing pressure from the designated away side after the break.

There was controversy though as Rangers were awarded a penalty for an alleged handball on Anthony Ralston, despite replays showing his arm was in a natural position, allowing for James Tavernier to score from the spot.

In the end, the two sides couldn’t be separated in normal time, and had to go the full 120 minutes.

Celtic came out of the blocks after the pause in play and it was Callum McGregor who stepped up to make the difference with an outstanding strike before Callum Osmand scored his first professional goal to ensure the Hoops would be heading back to Hampden Park to face St Mirren in the final.