MARTIN O’NEILL maintained his superb sequence of success after leading Celtic to a crucial 3-1 Premiership triumph over Rangers at Parkhead yesterday.
The interim manager has knocked Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side out of both the Premier Sports League Cup and Scottish Cup and has now consigned their faint hopes of Champions League football next season to oblivion in his latest triumph.
O’Neill also had the satisfaction of watching the Hoops come off the ropes in Govan in March to reply to a two-goal deficit to earn a very creditable 2-2 draw.
After four meetings with the 74-year-old Irishman, Rohl, half his rival’s age, is still waiting for his first victory.
The wily veteran gaffer is now just two games away from a truly remarkable title triumph.
PARADISE…Daizen Maeda celebrates one of his derby double at a rocking Celtic Park.
O’Neill is ready to go again against Motherwell at Fir Park in midweek and then leaders Hearts, one point ahead, at Parkhead on Saturday.
He is already preparing for the two titanic tussles, but allowed himself some time to reflect on a job well done in the derby in front of a sell-out crowd at a rocking, pulsating stadium.
And O’Neill singled out the inexhaustible Daizen Maeda for special praise as he reflected on his two excellent second-half strikes after Yang Hyun-jun’s equaliser in the opening period.
Mikey Moore had fired the visitors into a ninth-minute lead before the champions responded with a gutsy display.
Maeda grabbed the limelight with his double – and, in particular, his spectacular overhead-kick for the third goal that raised the roof at Paradise.
O’Neill enthused: “Daizen was magnificent from start to finish in the game.
“First of all, the negative part of the game – closing players down – he’s terrific at that and I don’t know where he finds the energy.
“But then his display was magnificent. He never gave the Rangers defence a moment to settle and his second goal was just magnificent.”
HAIL, HAIL…Martin O’Neill praises dynamic Daizen Maeda.
O’Neill, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I’m absolutely delighted – delighted with the team and delighted with the way we fought back.
“We conceded the goal and were under a bit of pressure, but it was just a wonderful display by the team. In the second-half, we really got after them and deserved to win.
“I felt we were capable of fighting back in the game because this side has shown plenty of resilience.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s encounter while Hearts are at home to Falkirk on the same evening, O’Neill added: “The Motherwell game becomes absolutely immense for us now.
“It was great to win, it keeps us going and that’s the point.
“It gives us a chance and that’s all you can ask for, but that’s what we’ve been doing for months and months.”
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