Celtic‘s domination of Scottish football continued with an absorbing 1-0 Betfred Cup final win over Old Firm rivals Rangers at Hampden Park.
The Light Blues passed up a series of chances with Hoops goalkeeper Fraser Forster making key saves to keep the game scoreless at the interval.
Rangers were punished for those missed opportunities when Celtic defender Christopher Jullien knocked in a Ryan Christie free-kick in the 59th minute.
Forster then saved a penalty from Alfredo Morelos, after Hoops right-back Jeremie Frimpong had been sent off by referee Willie Collum for fouling the striker inside the box.
Neil Lennon’s 10 men held out for their 10th consecutive trophy win and his first success in the tournament as a manager, as Celtic delivered a psychological blow to Rangers, who have gone eight years without a major piece of silverware.
Welcome to The Independent‘s live coverage of Celtic vs Rangers as the Old Firm rivals meet in the final of the Scottish League Cup.
Mohamed Elyounoussi has been cleared to start in a boost to Neil Lennon’s side. Here is how they line-up:
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has also been handed positive news with Borna Barisic starting for Rangers.
Neil Lennon has warned his players to be ruthless to maintain their record-breaking 30-game unbeaten streak in the cups and not allow emotions or any refereeing decisions to interfere with their run.
“It’s important to try to take that out of it. Try to be the dominant team in all aspects of the game an then you don’t have to look at wrong decisions. You’ve got to take the referee out of it, you’ve got to keep your discipline and play as strongly as you can. People who say the run needs to end at some point? It doesn’t need to be this week. Not on the run we’re on, not the way we’re playing. Not with the significance or magnitude or the game, or the opposition. We don’t want to it to stop this Sunday, we want to keep it going for as long as we can.
Steven Gerrard is speaking to BT Sport ahead of the game:
We’ve got to defend well, especially their front-four. They’ve got good technical players and we’ve got to nullify those threats… We need to play the game, not the occasion.
Much of the speculation in the lead-up to today’s game centred around the fitness of Odsonne Edouard. The striker has been absent for the last three games and returns to the squad, but not the starting line-up. Neil Lennon has confirmed the forward will play a part in the second half.
Alfredo Morelos boasts a spectacular scoring record at Rangers, netting 73 goals in 109 appearances. However, the Colombian is still yet to break his Old Firm derby duck…
Neil Lennon has been speaking to BBC Scotland:
We’ve been going with Lewis Morgan for the past three games, it’s not going to change that much. Odsonne Edouard said yesterday he didn’t feel comfortable enough to start, but he can hopefully make an impact later in the game.
If we turn up and play we’ve got a chance. The wet pitch may suit us.Sometimes the quicker the pitch the better we play.
The fans are in full voice at Hampden Park. We’re just minutes away from kick-off!
The noise is deafening as the players emerge from the tunnel and the smoke machines have cast a fog over the entire stadium. Here is a reminder of today’s line-ups:
Celtic: Forster, Frimpong, Jullien, Ajer, Hayes, Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi, Morgan.
KICK-OFF! The wait is over.
3 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
An electric start by Rangers. An early corner causes chaos in the box with Forster eventually pushing it wide. Goldson leaps highest second time around but his header soars wide.
4 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
An now Rangers have a free-kick after some fine work from Morelos up front. Goldson wins the header again but it drifts harmlessly wide. Gerrard will be delighted with how his team have started.
6 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
Finally there is respite for Celtic and it’s thanks to some fine work from 18-year-old Frimpong. His battle with Kent will be key today and he manages to skip down the right-flank, but Barisic slides in with a full-blooded challenge to clear the danger.
8 mins: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
Rangers break and win yet another corner. Helander is first to it but the Swede’s header is cleared comfortably. The rain is thick, the wind is howling, and it’s been a typically frantic start to an Old Firm derby.
10 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
Celtic finally work their first glimpse of goal as Morgan’s snapshot fizzes wide of the near post. It was hardly threatening but Lennon will hope that will at least spark some life into his side.
13 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
What a save! Jack swivels and strikes a terrific shot from 25 yards that’s dipping perfectly towards the top corner, but Forster leaps acrobatically to tip it over.
15 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
Goldson’s header is blocked from the resultant corner. Gerrard will be desperate for his side to take advantage of this spell of dominance.
17 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
Frimpong may be the youngest player on the pitch but he’s been Celtic’s best attacking outlet by a considerable margin so far. The teenager dances down the right-wing, wrongfoots the tracking midfielder to work space for a cross and fizzes the ball towards the penalty spot. But with only Morgan to target, it’s easy for Rangers to clear. Celtic are really missing the presence of Edouard up front.
21 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
Close! Almost a hero-to-villain moment from Forster who makes a complete hash of Morelos’ shot as the ball squirms beneath him. His blushes are saved though as Hayes wins the race to the loose ball and makes the clearance.
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What time is kick-off?
The match starts at 3pm at Hampden Park on Sunday 8 December.
How can I watch it?
The final will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1, with coverage beginning at 1pm.
Line-ups
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Helander, Goldson, Barisic, Jack, Kamara, Arfield, Aribo, Kent, Morelos
Celtic: Forster, Frimpong, Ajer, Jullien, Hayes, Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi, Morgan
Team news
Rangers are waiting anxiously on the fitness of Jordan Jones and Borna Barisic.
Celtic are significantly hampered by injuries though with Jozo Simunovic, Scott Bain, Jonathan Hayes and Daniel Arzani all ruled out. Mohamed Elyounoussi, Jack Hendry, Hatem Elhamid and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo are also doubts due to niggling injuries.
Odds
Rangers 23/10
Draw 7/4
Celtic 7/5
