CELTIC CRUISED INTO the Scottish League Cup final with a comfortable 2-0 victory over rivals Rangers in the first Old Firm derby in nearly three years.
It wasn’t the record rout that many predicted before the match, but it was an entirely uneven contest with the Scottish Premiership leaders lauding it over their city rivals to claim victory in the 400th competitive outing of one of the world’s fiercest rivalries.
Leigh Griffiths headed home the opener after just 10 minutes and Kris Commons, one of four Celtic players in the starting 11 who had featured in the fixture previously, rifled home a second in the 31st minute as the Hoops threatened to run riot.
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The Celtic supporters smelt blood but their side failed to go for the jugular as they seemed content to play within themselves in the second half as Rangers failed to test ‘keeper Craig Gordon.
Celtic will now face Dundee United in the final on March 15 while Rangers, who are still plagued by financial problems and boardroom battles, will refocus their attention on trying to catch Hearts in the race for the Scottish Championship.
The match at Hampden was the first meeting of the Old Firm since April 2012 with Rangers subsequently forced to start life again in the country’s bottom tier following liquidation in June 2012.