Celtic at home to Hibs in League Cup draw, HCTS works for early rounds at least

Celtic have this afternoon been drawn against Hibs in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup, or as it’s traditionally known the League Cup.

Celtic lost our grip on the trophy at this stage last season, losing to Kilmarnock in controversial circumstances last August.

As things turned out that defeat prevented Celtic from having a chance at retaining the treble from the previous season, won under Ange Postecolgou but Brendan Rodgers didn’t do too badly in the end winning both the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup.

With Celtic out the way in the League Cup last season, theRangers took full advantage to lift the trophy themselves for the first time in their history and complete the set of Scottish Premiership (2021), Scottish Cup (2022) and League Cup (2024) making up the latest Ibrox club’s actual list of honours won.

20th August 2023; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Viaplay Cup Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Marley Watkins of Kilmarnock celebrates after he scores and makes it 1-0 to Kilmarnock in the 59th minute

Should Celtic regain possession of the League Cup this season it will mean that our club has more major honours that the combined total of the two Ibrox clubs combined.

TheRangers are at ‘home’ to St Johnstone, so they are guaranteed at least one appearance at Hampden for a cup-tie. The ties will be played on the weekend of 16/17 August and will be determined by television commitments.

Kilmarnock v Celtic – Viaplay Cup – Second Round – The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park Celtic s Sead Haksabanovic is tacked by Kilmarnock s Lewis Mayo l during the Viaplay Cup second round match at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park, Sunday August 20, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

Celtic will whip the funds from the bank accounts of those on the Home Cup Ticket Scheme (HCTS) and those who never seem to have any ‘luck’ in those mysterious ballots will be left with a wry smile on their face knowing that if it’s a Glasgow Derby final then their chances will as always be slim to say the least.

Celtic’s inability to operate a fair scheme that shares the tickets out for these games continues to both amaze and frustrate. For instance everyone on the scheme who never got a ticket last May should maybe find themselves at the top of the queue this time around. Never gonna happen is it? Not with so many additional hospitality clients these days, as was the case back in May.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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