Brendan Rodgers hopes to avoid Rangers after ‘poor’ Celtic cup win – David Tanner
Rangers would have “folded” in their Scottish Cup quarter final win over Hibs with Michael Beale in charge, according to David Tanner.
The talkSPORT broadcaster reacted via Twitter on 10 March after Philippe Clement’s side booked their place in the semis with a 2-0 win at Easter Road, in a controversial game where the hosts finished with nine men, and lost Martin Boyle in a worrying clash of heads.
Tanner also asserted that with a “poor” Celtic getting past Livingston Brendan Rodgers will be sweating on the fitness of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor amid hopes of avoiding the Gers in the next round.
Tanner wrote: “My first thought tonight is for Martin Boyle. I wish him a quick recovery. Big wins for Celtic & Rangers today.
“Under Beale, Rangers would have folded at Hibs. Celtic were poor – but still won. BR will hope to avoid Rangers in the semis to allow more time to get CCV & CalMac fit.”
Philippe Clement factor once again clear in Rangers revival after Michael Beale exit
Rangers got the job done against Hibs again under Clement, but just as with the first two league victories the Belgian likely won’t be impressed with the reaction.
His side have now won the past three meetings by a combined score of 9-0, but with outrage in some quarters directed at the penalty which Dujon Sterling won, and both the red cards, the Light Blues likely won’t get a huge amount of credit.
There might be arguments against the two dismissals but the penalty looked clear, and ultimately it was another impressive result for a weakened Gers side who lost another ahead of the game in Ryan Jack, and then saw both Sterling and Ross McCausland forced off hurt in Edinburgh.
In the circumstances it isn’t hard to reach the conclusion that the belief that Clement has instilled in his players is what is keeping them going currently, with so many players unavailable.
It doesn’t get any easier with the second leg against Benfica next up, but after a away 2-2 draw without so many attacking options in the side there will still be confidence of competing at Ibrox.
So if Rodgers is hoping to avoid an Old Firm draw Rangers will increasingly feel that they are going to be the walking wounded whoever is next, although how long they can keep pushing through with numbers decreasing remains to be seen.
In other Rangers news, with a summer replacement already lined up for one Ibrox starter he has now been tipped to make the club £5million if sold.
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