Martin O’Neill hailed his side’s ‘character’ following Celtic’s sweet penalty shootout victory at Ibrox yesterday afternoon…
After two hours of draining derby action, it was grit and composure as much as technical quality from the penalty spot that ultimately decided the contest.
Those attributes were highlighted by Martin O’Neill after Celtic secured a 4–2 victory in the shootout against the Rangers.
The win sends Celtic through to the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden Park where they will face St Mirren, a reward O’Neill’s side fully merited after navigating a demanding run of four consecutive away fixtures in the space of 10 days.
Speaking via Celtic TV, O’Neill said: “I find it hard to describe. The only thing I can think about is that the players in the dressing room afterwards, they are absolutely and utterly out on their feet.”
“Which is not surprising really. We’ve had four away games in 10 days and we’ve travelled to Germany. We had to play last Sunday as well, then we had to go up to Aberdeen and back, so four games in 10 days.”
‘But the character in the side shone through magnificently and I thought that was the main point to take away from it. The character, the blocks they put in, the defending on the edge of the penalty box, and it’s a credit to the players, it really is.”
O’Neill added: “It’s harrowing [penalties], it’s really harrowing. You’ve gone the full distance, and you know it’s in the lap of the gods at the end of it all.”
“They took the penalties brilliantly, took the advantage early on, Alex scores early on for us and it sets the tone. Hatate scores brilliantly – it didn’t take him three attempts to put the ball in the net this time!”
Celtic now have six days to prepare for Saturday’s Premiership encounter against Motherwell at Celtic Park.
Conor Spence
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You have to also take into account, that we entered that run of 4 away games, on the back of 2 damaging home defeats?
So can admit to not being overly confident of coming through all 4 games undefeated.
Yesterday was the best of the 4 achieved imo, with doing so, with only 4 of our core squad of players available.
But getting all 4 contributing hugely yesterday, was most welcome, especially as we haven’t got the returns from our core group squad players, that we would have expected and liked, generally this season imo?
So squad players having to start stepping up, with sinisalo leading the way most of all. Murray recovering from early season setbacks, and showing the signs now of being preferred to Welsh in squad selection. Even McCowan getting trusted moreso in our bigger games now. Even Paulo had his moments yesterday, despite being overlooked for the best part of this season to date.
Julian still leading the way in our January signings, and like Saracchi would definitely like both to become permanent signings to increase our core group for next season imo. Delighted for the OX yesterday with his contribution also.
Unfortunately our 3 replacements in attack, weren’t able to get ourselves anything as an attacking force, with only forrest looking like a potential outlet for ourselves. Even so they all worked hard, even if in a defensive manner moreso.
Overall, we already know that this summer is going to be massive for ourselves.
How much of a core group of our squad remains intact is unknown at present?
Along with a number of squad players also?
Limited number of success stories with incoming players, but could increase before the end of this season still?
But with the spirit within our squad, backed up by greater determination levels on show.
Also a far greater show of unity within our own support, at present.
Then nothing to suggest that this can’t be another successful double winning season after all imo?
Yet we have to still guard ourselves in letting complacency becoming a factor, all the same?
Celtic suffer for there consistinsa cant be right four away games sfa do what they can to put barriers in front of them but for years we have knock down those barriers Green brigade that want board sacked have ro relise how hard it is for Celtic to persuade top talent you have spl most teams park the bus anything but a win is a defeat three plastic pitches of the cheapest product not been watered as instructed by the makers to stop teams playing fast passing football we have referees that are brought up through schools and family homes Celtic is the enemy look at decisions we get against us we got a player sent of for trying to free himself with the player getting a grip of his shirt player went down as if he got shot ref never gave it var did yesterday was a example of what we are up against two Rangers player should have been off fir two yellow card offensive will we be told why they stayed on the pitch but again our players rose even with depleted team through injuries and having to play 4 away games in 10 days one in germany one in plastic pitch one with ten men and two to our hardest opnets one league and other cup going to extra time abd penaltise with five dirst team picks missing