Weather latest: it is absolutely ratting down in Glasgow. The pitch is “absolutely saturated” and it’s unlikely to stop any time soon.
It’s probably wise to establish at this stage what would happen should the scores be level after 90 minutes. Here are the relevant regulations:
Basis of Competition
4.5 In all rounds, other than the First Round, the Competition shall be conducted on a ‘knockout’ basis with the winner being the Club or club with the greater number of goals at full-time. If the scores are equal at full time or no goals have been scored, an extra thirty minutes (15 minutes each way) of extra time will be played (“Extra Time”) and, if the scores are still equal or still no goals have been scored at the end of Extra Time, the winner shall be determined by taking Penalty Kicks.
4.6 If Penalty Kicks are required, the Match referee determines which goal will be used as follows:
4.6.1 if the Match referee determines that either goal could be used for the Penalty Kicks, then, in the presence of the two captains, the referee shall toss a coin to decide which goal will be used; or
4.6.2 if for reasons of safety/security, condition of the field of play, lighting or other reason, the Match referee determines that a particular goal shall be used for the Penalty Kicks, such decision shall be final and require no justification.4.7 Following the procedure set out in Regulation 4.6, the Match referee shall toss a coin and the Club/club that wins the toss shall decide whether to take the first or second Penalty Kick.
The teams!
The team sheets are in, and these are the names upon them. Steven Davis is the notable absentee from the Rangers side, while Odsonne Edouard is fit enough only for the Celtic bench:
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Aribo, Jack, Kamara, Arfield, Morelos, Kent. Subs: Defoe, Ojo, Foderingham, Flanagan, Katic, Barker, Stewart.
Celtic: Forster, Frimpong, Ajer, Jullien, Hayes, McGregor, Brown, Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi, Morgan. Subs: Gordon, Bitton, Rogic, Johnston, Ntcham, Edouard, Bolingoli Mbombo.
Referee: William Collum.
Hello world!
Celtic play Rangers in the final of the competition currently known as the Betfred Cup, for Rangers a first League Cup final since they beat these very opponents 2-1 in 2010-11. Celtic have won this pot in four of the last five seasons, beating Dundee United, Aberdeen, Motherwell and Aberdeen again by an aggregate score of 8-0 in those finals, but Old Firm games since Steven Gerrard’s appointment by Rangers have tended to be close, there are only two points between them in the league table and this looks very much like an anything-could-happen situation.
Here’s Ewan Murray’s preview:
It would be natural for Celtic supporters to have spent recent days in a state of apprehension. For the prospect of their domestic dominance being halted by their Old Firm rivals Rangers is galling. Were Aberdeen, Dundee United or Motherwell to end Celtic’s consecutive trophy haul, which currently stands at nine, there would be joy for the underdog and widespread shock. If Rangers break the spell, the mutual impact would be considerable. For all that Celtic should be the favourites heading into Sunday’s Scottish League Cup final, a Hampden Park showpiece – likely to be more intense, and bitter, than most knockout football – supplies no guarantees.
Much more here:
