RANGERS 3 CELTIC 0
JUST WHEN you thought it could not get any worse than LASK, along comes this utterly embarrassing and totally unacceptable collapse at Ibrox this afternoon.
Feeble Celtic, outfought from first minute to last, capitulated to exit the Premier Sports League Cup in the most mystifying of circumstances.
There is no getting away from the fact Martin O’Neill’s men were miles off it. They continually gifted possession to the opposition, were wasteful when they had the chance to retaliate and were rolled over by gleeful opponents who appeared to win every 50/50 challenge.
Just to underline how awful this result is you have to go back SIXTY-THREE years for the last time the Ibrox club beat the Hoops by such a margin in the League Cup.
Celtic lost their way in a maze of mistakes and, worryingly, were outplayed by their eager opponents who were more up for the fight.
DON’T LOOK NOW…Colby Donovan can’t bear it as the Ibrox players celebate.
Cameron Carter-Vickers was to blame for the loss of the breakthrough goal in the 22nd minute which came after Sam Johnstone had come dangerously close to handing Derek McInnes’ side an opener in the fourth minute.
The champions were suffocated by the Ibrox team and couldn’t quite come to terms with their opponents putting left-back James Penrice into the middle of the park where practically zilch was seen of Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren and Mika Baur in an offensive situation.
It took the Hoops until the 26th minute to get their first and only shot of a dire display on target with an effort from Camilo Duran that rolled into the arms of the grateful Ivor Pandour.
The goal the visitors conceded came after Carter-Vickers switched off as he went to take possession on the right.
The centre-back was sloppy and Ryan Nadieri dived in to rob him before rolling the ball in front of Kevin Kelsy who in turn placed it in front of Dan Neil on the edge of the box.
The midfielder was given the time and space to take a touch before firing a low drive past Johnstone at his right-hand post.
Earlier, the former England international No.1, who looked nervous throughout, had knocked the ball straight to Kelsy who was on his own inside the box. The striker was so surprised he slashed the ball wide of the target.
START OF THE DOWNFALL…Dan Neil slams No.1 past Sam Johnstone.
Celtic responded in the 11th minute when Colby Donovan hit a superb pass to Kasper Hogh who had a clear run on goal.
Unfortunately, the Danish frontman, a massive disappointment on this showing, slipped at the crucial moment and the chance was lost.
Five minutes later, Johnstone flapped at a left-wing cross and the ball dropped to Kim Min-su on the edge of the box.
The winger fired it towards the inviting net, but Liam Scales performed a miraculous twist and turn to clear off the line.
To make matter worse for the Hoops, Donovan and Nygren, about the Swede’s only contribution, were booked by referee Nick Walsh.
Unsurprisingly, Hassiem Hassan replaced the ineffective Sebastian Tounekto at the interval.
The Egyptian started sprightly, but it wasn’t long before the Hoops veered into blunderland again and Johnstone had to make a full-length save to his right to deny a blistering shot from Min-su on the edge of the box.
OOPS…Callum McGregor winces and Cameron Carter-Vickers looks on as Dan Neil nets No.3.
Just before the hour mark the keeper was beaten again when Penrice flighted over a ball from the left, it took a nick off the head of Carter-Vickers and dropped at the feet of Kelsy who thumped a low shot into the net.
In the 63rd minute, Nico Raskin headed in from a Penrice free-kick, but the cheers of the fans stopped abruptly was it was chalked off for offside by VAR.
Moments later, the toiling Hogh, who had a derby debut to forget, and Nygren were replaced by James Forrest and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The home side duly added a third goal after the Hoops got into a muddle as they attempted to clear a left-wing corner-kick.
The ball dropped to the unmarked Neil and he thrashed an 18-yard drive into Johnstone’s top left-hand corner.
O’Neill sent on Shim Mheuka and Jordan Lotomba for Duran and Tierney in the fading moments.
But by then it was too late, far too late, for his team to regain a vestige of pride.
Celtic have got the chance to gain instant revenge when the teams meet in the Premiership at Parkhead a week today.
They would be well advised to take the opportunity in an attempt to help dispel the memories of this truly awful and humiliating performance.
TEAM: Johnstone; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney (sub: Lotomba 80); Nygren (sub: Oxlade-Chamberlain 64). McGregor, Baur; Duran (Mheuka 77), Hogh (sub: Forrest 64), Tounekti (sub: Hassan 46).
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