BRENDAN RODGERS has earned the honour of being Celtic’s most successful manager in Glasgow derby encounters in history.
The relentless Hoops gaffer has masterminded 16 victories, managed three draws and suffered just two defeats in his 21 games against Ibrox foes.
Following 10 victories, two draws and a solitary loss in his first 13-game stint, the Irishman returned to the fixture for the first time following an absence of over four and a half years with a 1-0 success at Ibrox on September 3 2023 when Kyogo Furuhashi proved to be the matchwinner.
CROWNING GLORY…Brendan Rodgers accepts the acclaim of the Celtic fans after the 5-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park to clinch the title on May 15 2024.
Rodgers then led the team to a 2-1 success at Parkhead before the turn of the year and then saw a stoppage-time strike deprive him of a hat-trick at Ibrox in April before a 2-1 victory in the east end of Glasgow on May 11 powered them towards a third consecutive title four days later with a 5-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Ten days after the team’s 54th crowning glory in Ayrshire, Celtic had the opportunity to bring down the curtain on the manager’s comeback campaign when they locked horns for the fourth time that season in the Scottish Cup Final on the iconic date of May 25.
In another CQN EXCLUSIVE series, we have been charting Rodgers’ confrontations against Celtic’s city rivals since he kicked off with a convincing 5-1 thumping over Mark Warburton’s shell-shocked side in the east end of Glasgow in September 2016.
Today, we focus on an eventful day at the national stadium.
Please enjoy!
HAMPDEN HERO…Adam Idah fires the Scottish Cup winner past Jack Butland.
May 25 2024: Scottish Cup Final
CELTIC 1 RANGERS 0
POWERHOUSE Adam Idah was Celtic’s last-gasp goal hero as Brendan Rodgers’ side sealed a league and Cup double in the Hampden sunshine.
The destination of the Scottish Cup was in the balance with the game locked at 0-0 and extra-time looming.
Paulo Bernardo, who had replaced Reo Hatate, carried the ball through from the middle of the pitch as the Ibrox opponents backed off.
The on-loan Benfica playmaker unleashed a drive from 25 yards that completely bamboozled Jack Butland as the ball swerved and changed direction in the air.
The keeper was diving to his right as he frantically thrust out a left hand. He managed to push the drive away and Idah, who had come on for Kyogo Furuhashi, was onto it in a flash.
The Republic of Ireland attacker raced in full pelt to get to the loose ball as the netminder attempted to scramble back to his feet. The on-loan Norwich City frontman got there first to whip the ball into the net to give Celtic their 42nd Scottish Cup.
MAKE MINE A DOUBLE…triumphant Brendan Rodgers and Callum McGregor celebrate.
Rodgers kept his unbeaten record at the national stadium as the holders saw out the remaining 10 minutes of stoppage-time. and Joe Hart could take his final bow as a winner before retirement at the age of 37.
There had been high drama in the 59th minute when Rangers thought they had gone ahead following a touch from Abdallah Sima at the far post in a crowded penalty area as James Tavernier curled in a left-wing delivery.
Hart went up for the cross as he came into traffic, missed the flight of the ball and it swept to the back post where the Ibrox player stuck out a knee to deflect an effort into the net from practically under the crossbar.
The much-decorated keeper was booked by Nick Walsh as he protested about being pushed before the match official was instructed by VAR to review the incident on the touchline monitor.
The ref returned to the pitch to wipe out the ‘goal’, book Nico Raskin and award Celtic a free-kick much to the jubilation of the Hoops support and the consternation of the Ibrox followers.
HAIL, HAIL…the joyous Celtic players celebrate clinching the league and Cup double.
Images clearly showed the Belgian midfielder had used both hands to push Hart in the back as the ball was in flight. No argument. No goal.
Then came Idah’s moment to savour with his ninth goal since his temporary transfer in January and now the question is: Will he return in the summer on a permanent basis?
In the 61st minute, Rodgers made his first change when he took off the ineffective Kyogo and put on Idah in the move that would have dire consequences for the men from Ibrox – and send the Celtic fans into ecstasy.
They got their reward in the 90th minute when Idah displayed majestic penalty-box predatory instincts to follow in Bernardo’s shot to capitalise of Butland’s mishandling of the effort.
Irish eyes were certainly smiling at Hampden on this occasion!
TEAM: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; O’Riley, McGregor, Hatate (sub: Bernardo 79); Forrest (sub: Kuhn 71), Kyogo (sub: Idah 61), Maeda.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss Rodgers v Rangers: Parts Nine and Ten – only in your champion CQN.
