YOUSSOUF MULUMBU passed up the chance to make a brilliant weekend for Celtic supporters perfect when he failed to connect properly with the Rangers goal at his mercy a yard or so away. He scuffed his effort and a relieved Andy Halliday cleared from the goal-line.
The game finished goalless – Tavernier missed the penalty and they will have to go to a replay at Ibrox a week on Wednesday.
The Rangers manager is trying to force an SFA citation for Kilmarnock’s midfielder Alan Power for a high boot challenge.
???? Our @ScottishCup replay against Kilmarnock will take place at Ibrox on Wed 20th February, KO 7:45pm.
Ticket information will follow in due course. pic.twitter.com/cTPU6UqWNS
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) February 9, 2019
“I’ll be interested to see if there’s a citing. I don’t know who points the citings out, but I’ll be interested to see what happens,” Gerrard said.
Of course if the SFA Compliance Officer does act on this it could mean that Power misses Killie’s next game – which is at home to league leaders CELTIC next Sunday!
Maybe Gerrard hasn’t thought that one through properly? This management game, not as easy as it looks, it’s so easy to slip-up!
The former West Brom midfielder, who re-joined Killie on deadline day after a loan move from Celtic to Derby Country fell through, spoke to the media about his Celtic future after the Scottish Cup stalemate on Saturday.
“It was hard at Celtic,” Mulumbu said.
“You are going into a team which is winning every game and you see players like Ryan Chistie, who deserved to play, get his chance.
“I was frustrated, but I was also happy for Ryan. You could say he took my spot, but he really deserved it and I just tried to stay fit.
“I spoke with the manager at Celtic and he said that, if I could get some games by being on loan, he’d let me go. We are on good terms. I came to Kilmarnock with confidence and a little bit of disappointment. I need to show I’m a good player and that’s what I intend to do.
“Do I regret the move? No, no, no. It’s a great club and my team mates were amazing with me. When I had the chance to play, I was injured and, like I said, Ryan took the spot and we were in the same situation.
“He got the chance and he took it by playing well and scoring in every game. It happens in football. Sometimes you need the luck to be there at the right time and I know things can change quickly.
“I’m here for six months to help Kilmarnock and if I do every right and if we achieve something very good, I know I’ll be back at Celtic in the summer and everything can change from there.
“In my head, it’s not over at Celtic. If you speak with Brendan and the lads, they know I want to go back and do great things for them.”
Predictably Mulumbu was targeted by the Rangers support at Rugby Park on Saturday but it certainly didn’t let it bother him.
“It’s normal. I’m a Bhoy! They are going to be on my back, but it’s part of the game. They are against me, but I suppose I have the green fans behind me.”
Mulumbu will now rest up and get ready for the Scottish Cup replay at Ibrox, as he won’t feature against his parent club on Sunday.
“I can’t play next week, but I’ll come along and support Kilmarnock, obviously.”
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The Valencia file (Part 6) – The Canaries are ‘bossed in France’ by the Flying Flea
Sandman’s Definitive Ratings: Celtic v You Again? Scottish Cup 5th Round
