I don’t know how to say “Our Bhoys Have Won The Cup!” in Japanese, but it sounds good enough in English. We have now won the Scottish League Cup 21 times, and although this particular victory was not flamboyant or spectacular, it was a fine triumph for the team who might well have thrown it all away, but hung in there, showing excellent game management skills, once the game went to 2-1.
Black marks for Abada and Oh for getting themselves yellow carded, Abada for a blatant dive and Oh for barging someone seconds after he came on! Two chances were missed near the end as well, but possibly too late for any difference to be made. The goals were good, came at the right time, and Kyogu who seems to like scoring goals at Hampden in League Cup finals, once again had an opportunity to show he likes to celebrate.
The games was reasonably fair and even, and magnanimous praise should be bestowed on Rangers for making a good fight of it, as well as referee Nick Walsh who controlled the game well, even though he did go a little mad with yellow cards near the end.
And surely the best quote of them all was Ange at the end when he said “It all counts for nothing if we don’t beat St Mirren next Sunday.” One trophy on the sideboard, and we are well ahead in the Scottish League but a tough Scottish Cup game at Tynecastle awaits in a fortnight. We would be very foolish to take the foot off the gas over the remaining 15 games this season. The sight of green and white ribbons of silverware becomes addictive.
The game was civilised and no VAR in sight. BBC Football tells us there was a free fight in Somerville Drive early this morning. Wonder who won that one, but it matters little for the result of Rangers 1 Celtic 2 will do me. Celtic had now won seven League Cups over the last nine seasons. I wonder who would have been able to guess that the other two League Cups would be won by Ross County and St Johnstone?
Congratulations to all concerned.
David Potter
