Sam Stone

Tue 21 February 2023 21:16, UK

Alan Rough believes Celtic have more match-winners in their squad and has backed Ange Postecoglou’s side to beat Rangers 2-1 in Sunday’s ViaPlay Cup final.

Both teams head to Hampden Park in exceptional form with January’s 2-2 draw at Ibrox the last time either team failed to win.

Despite the Light Blues’ improvement under Michael Beale, Rough believes The Hoops’ “exciting” attacking options will prove to be the difference at Hampden.

“At this moment in time I think they’ve got more match winners going forward and they’re more exciting going forward, so I am going to go 2-1 Celtic,” said Rough (PLZ Football Show, 26m 37s, 21 February).

Measure

The clash at Hampden Park will be a good measure of just how far Rangers have come under Beale. They don’t have a jam-packed Ibrox behind them and the clash at the national stadium provides an even playing field. Postecoglou’s side are in superb form and it will be intriguing to see if Beale throws any of his new signings straight into the fray.

We all know that Old Firm encounters are very unique and for Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin, it will be nothing like they have experienced before. Both players have impressed since making the move to Ibrox and would certainly improve Rangers’ chances of getting a result. However, it would be a huge call from Beale to diverge from a tried and tested plan.

The outcome of this game could have huge implications for the remainder of the campaign. The two sides are set to meet on multiple occasions before the season’s end and a victory for Beale’s men on Sunday could give them the edge heading into the campaign’s final stretch.

In other Rangers news, the club are in line for a multi-million windfall from the Premier League after a £10m Auchenhowie milestone was reached.