Gary Keown could not believe what he saw after Celtic win vs ‘abysmal’ Rangers – ‘Shame on them’
Danny Rohl has now suffered consecutive losses as Rangers manager for the first time.
After Celtic beat Rangers 3-1 in the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup, the Bears suffered further, losing to Roma in the Europa League on Thursday at Ibrox.
The loss to Celtic was controversial as expected, with Auston Trusty the centre of attention for catching Jack Butland in the face with his boot, somehow avoiding red.
Nick Walsh was called out for multiple decisions, and it will be unlikely to see the referee officiate another Old Firm showdown in the immediate future.
However, there were scenes after the game that did not sit quite well with Gary Keown.
Gary Keown disapproved of Celtic’s celebrations vs Rangers
Rangers still took the game to Celtic despite being down to 10 men, but there was still a lack of quality on display.
James Tavernier’s late penalty sent the game to extra time, where ultimately, Rangers had their work cut out for them with the disadvantage of being a man down.
- Celtic had 54% possession to Rangers’ 46%
- There were 30 fouls committed in the game, with the Hoops at fault for 20
- Celtic dominated in attack, registering 20 efforts on goal to Rangers’ 11
In the print edition of the Scottish Mail on Sunday, Keown mentioned how Celtic should feel “shame” after the way they reacted to beating an “abysmal” Rangers on the day, baffled by talk of Martin O’Neill staying with the Hoops permanently.
Keown said: “For a moment there, in the wake of a drawn-out League Cup semi-final win over an abysmal 10-man Rangers, it felt like people were starting to talk seriously about Martin O’Neill being given the Celtic manager’s job permanently.
“Shame on all of them. This is no slight on O’Neill, by the way. There has been a certain comfort in seeing him holding court in those press conferences in his trademark style.”
Even though Rangers lost, it could be a blessing in disguise if they keep O’Neill.
Rangers will move past Celtic with Danny Rohl if they keep Martin O’Neill
Rangers are building for the future with Rohl at the helm, and although things haven’t been smooth sailing so far, the future looks bright.
Rohl took charge after a truly shocking transfer window conducted by Rangers chiefs, and still has improved players who once had no hope of being at the level required for the Gers.
Danilo has looked a much-improved man up top for Gers, and although he wasn’t a summer signing this year, the Brazilian is looking his most promising in a Rangers shirt.
Celtic were not that great against 10-man Rangers, and only have five more points than the Gers heading into the 11th game of the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Rohl is a perfect example of a modern-day head coach, and Celtic will not get far with O’Neill, as Rangers could be set for a dominating couple of years over the Hoops should that unfold.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @ibroxnews247