Desperate times call for desperate measures. And it appears Ibrox cheerleader Lindsay Herron over at the Scottish Daily Express is very much looking for any port in a storm.
With Celtic undefeated in their last four Glasgow Derby meetings, a high street bookie may not be willing to offer generous odds on theRangers winning the upcoming Glasgow Derby Scottish Cup semi-final.
However, would they change their mind if they knew Celtic had apparently won only two of eight meetings between the three clubs since 1960? Well, no, probably not, although Herron is willing to have a go at persuading us otherwise.
‘Rangers have a huge historical edge in Scottish Cup semi-finals against Celtic – and they will be hoping it is a lucky omen as they aim to become Treble-busters this season.
The Old Firm (sic) have met eight times at the last four stage since the Second World War and the Ibrox men have won six of these clashes spanning from 1960 to last season.’ No mention of liquidation then Founding Father Charles Green starting a Phoenix club in 2012. Lest We Forget.
Bookmakers base their odds on their likely liabilities, and they look to recent form rather than any historical results at a particular stage of a competition, never mind over a 63-year period. Yet I guess if you are a fan of the blue half of Glasgow you may take some desperate encouragement from Herron’s Express piece.
You only have to look to the last match to be played at Hampden to see Celtic will be the overwhelming favourites to beat theRangers, such was the gulf in class between the sides evidenced by Celtic’s recent 2-1 League Cup Final win. Indeed, since Ange Postecoglou took over at Celtic the Hoops have only lost two of eight meetings between the sides, with the only defeat in 90 minutes coming in a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox just two months after Postecoglou got his feet under the desk at Celtic – and prior to his first transfer window even closing.
Since then, Celtic are undefeated in six out of seven meetings between the clubs with an extra time defeat in last season’s semi-final very much the outlier.
When faced with a form book weighted heavily in the favour of one club, it perhaps makes sense to look for solace from somewhere. However, trawling through the record books like this, reeks of desperation on the part of theRangers supporting writer.
We have already seen what happens in the aftermath of a cup defeat to know theRangers are unlikely to recover from another one without their fans revolting. And whilst Celtic fans will have been cheering at a chance to knock our Glasgow rivals out of their last remaining chance of silverware, prior to even reaching the final, the supporters of the latest club to play out of Ibrox will most likely have been despairing.
And that’s because they know full well their season could end in the last weekend of April, whilst Celtic will likely be one more win from completing the domestic treble and they’d be relying on either Inverness Caley Thistle from the Championship or league one side Falkirk to stop Postecoglou’s team in the June Final.
Even the soothing words of a Daily Express hack is unlikely to change that inevitability, and it is likely the bookmakers will price the Scottish Cup Semi-Final odds accordingly.
Niall J
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Great draw union bears can go on holiday early that leave the Europe hun free in July august
Seems to be the premise of the desperate newco to pick a date in history and create a delusion for what they deem a favourable outcome. I said it with the ridiculous comparison before the league cup final. Select a date in history, ie Mick joined them, make a comparison to a short part of ANGE’s ongoing record and decide, without taking their deludamol, that the Newco and the Original one history unbroken club, are equal ! same old people behind the Newco !