MARTIN O’NEILL has accused Rangers of making excuses for Sunday’s defeat as Celtic’s interm boss attempted to pull the veil over another powderkeg derby encounter.
The Irishman enjoyed his second outing in his remarkable comeback as the holders overcame their Ibrox opponents 3-1 in a dramatic extra-time confrontation to seal a place in the Premier Sports League Cup Final against St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday December 14.
The Govan club did not accept defeat gracefully and insisted Hoops defender Auston Trusty should have been red-carded after a coming-together with grounded Jack Butland.
FLASHPOINT…Auston Trusty is booked by Nick Walsh as the Ibrox players demand a red card.
The USA international centre-back motioned his foot towards the keeper and made slight contact with his head. There was little chance of endangering an opponent as there was no force behind the movement.
However, irate Ibrox players surrounded referee Nick Walsh demanding the Celt should receive the same treatment as their team-mate Thelo Aasgaard who had been dismissed for a wayward lunge that caught Anthony Ralston in the groin.
Trusty was booked and the Govan hierarchy took up the complaint with the Scottish football authorities and announced they hadn’t been satisfied at the explanation from the bosses.
There was no mention of the controversial penalty-kick in the 81st minute that threw Rangers a lifeline when Walsh and his VAR team adjudged Ralston had handled a shot in the build-up.
FLASHPOINT…Anthony Ralston falls in front of the ball that brought the Ibrox side a controversial penalty-kick.
O’Neill, preparing his players for tonight’s Europa League game against FC Midtjylland, attempted to have his final say on the flashpoint before moving on with a crucial match in Denmark to be addressed immediately.
The 73-year-old team chief, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “I’m delighted to be here and if you said to me I’ve got one more win over Rangers, well that’s the best news in the world…for God’s sake, take it on.
“Whatever sort of excuses they make, two things…
“I don’t think it was a penalty and I think Trusty was lucky to stay on the field, having seen those things back.
“So, that’s my points. But it’s still one of the great fixtures in European football, if not the world.
“We won. Watching it back, sometimes there are things you miss. We had awesome, really great chances.
“Rangers did great with 10 men in the second-half, but we did create some chances.”
HAPPY DAZE…Callum Osmand celebrates the third and decisive goal at Hampden as Arne Engels and Kieran Tierney join in the glee club.
O’Neill has injected some much-needed vim and vigour into the team following two grim defeats against Dundee and Hearts. There was an obvious upsurge in the 4-0 win over Falkirk in his first game in charge for two decades.
And that carried on to Hampden where goals from Johnny Kenny, Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand got the job done.
It was the champions’ first win over their Govan foes in 2025 at the fifth attempt after two defeats and two draws.
Now it’s all about Europe for the next 24 hours.
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