MOUSSA DEMBELE is looking to put Comedy Club Sevco Rangers to the sword again in this afternoon’s Betfred League Cup semi-final encounter at Hampden.
The French Under-21 international striker enjoyed a fabulous occasion the first time he came up against the latest Ibrox club.
Dembele thumped in a perfect hat-trick and, quite correctly, won the Man of the Match award after leaving Mark Warburton’s defence in shreds after an energetic demolition performance at Parkhead on September 10.
The 20-year-old ex-Fulham hitman is hoping to stage an action replay at the national stadium and send the Hoops rocketing into the Final against Aberdeen on November 27.
Dembele, though, accepts he will have to fight for that frontline spot with last season’s 40-goal man Leigh Griffiths breathing down his neck.
He said: “The 5-1 game was a big day for me and everyone at the club. This time I’ll focus on the team, but also do my best to get the right result.
“We’ll have to show character after Wednesday night and give 100 per cent against (Comedy Club Sevco) Rangers. We still believe in ourselves – you can’t always win.
“Sometimes you need to lose to become better and we need to turn it into a positive experience today.
“Maybe they will decide to try something different against me this time. That’s up to them.
“We’ll just go there and play our own game – and I’ll keep doing what I have done since I came here.
“I hope it’s possible for me to produce another showing like I did at Celtic Park against them. I’m ready to give my all in the match and if it happens like it did last time, I’ll be happy.
“But the first priority is to win, that’s the main thing. If I manage to score, then it will be even better.
“I’ve had a great reaction from the Celtic supporters since my hat-trick. I’ve had lots of positive attention since that (Comedy Club Sevco) Rangers game.
“Fans just wanted to show how happy they were. But that last game has gone now. We now need to make a whole new experience this afternoon.
“It’s a different venue for us, at Hampden Park, and the fans will be 50/50, but we can only focus on what happens on the pitch.
“That side of it has nothing to do with us. If we look after our own performance, everything else will flow from there.”
Dembele is convinced there will be no Euro hangover. He added: “Two mistakes cost us the game against Borussia Monchengladbach and it’s all about learning. We won’t make the same mistakes again.
“Sometimes you have to fall to wake up better. That happened on Wednesday and it will make us a better team in the long run.
“We did everything right in the Champions League game – except take our chances. At this level, you can’t afford to be like that. If you don’t score when the chances come along your opponents will punish you.
“This is football at the top level and it’s absolutely critical that you take your chances.
“But Wednesday is gone now and we can concentrate on the semi-final and (Comedy Club Sevco) Rangers.
“It’s a massive game and, hopefully, we will make up for the defeat.”
