There is simply no respite for Celtic and Martin O’Neill.
After following up their hard-earned point in last weekend’s Glasgow Derby with a crucial three points at Pittodrie, they are heading back to Ibrox on Sunday.
This time, it’s for Scottish Cup action, as Celtic fans prepare to fill the Broomloan Stand for the first time in eight years.
Speaking after the Aberdeen win, Hoops interim boss Martin O’Neill was asked about the different prospect ahead of him on Sunday.
You are Martin O’Neill, what is the first change you would make for the cup game against Rangers?
Martin O’Neill on Celtic allocation returning to Ibrox
On whether his players are ready for yet another 90-minute (potentially more) challenge on Sunday, O’Neill simply replied: “Wow… oh, good Lord. Good point…
“No idea.
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“Really, I honestly have not thought about it. I’m going to watch the Aberdeen game on the bus on the way back, and then I’ll start thinking about the game for tomorrow at some stage
“It’s a really good point, and you’d be better equipped than me. It’s a long, long time since I’ve been to Ibrox twice in three or four days.
“It’s not something I thought about a couple of months ago, so I will think about it. I don’t know.
“I’m hoping that just the points that you’ve made, us back in the second half performance and winning tonight, I’m hoping gives us a bit of a lift going there.”
At this point, it’s been two-and-a-half years since Celtic last won at Ibrox. The last time they did it, Gustaf Lagerbielke started and Odin Thiago Holm played 25 minutes from the bench.
In fact, just four of the starting XI from that day remain at Celtic.
What can Celtic do to improve their first-half performances?
Celtic’s Scottish Cup meetings with Rangers
The last time Celtic travelled to Ibrox in the Scottish Cup was in 2011, for an infamous 2-2 draw which saw Scott Brown birth his iconic ‘Broony’ celebration after equalising for a ten-man visiting side.
The replay was just as controversial if not more, with three Rangers being sent off and Neil Lennon squaring up to then-Rangers assistant Ally McCoist as Mark Wilson scored the only goal to send the Hoops through.
We’ve been much more accustomed to the sides meeting at Hampden recent years, in game such as the 2024 final decided by Adam Idah’s 90th-minute winner.
O’Neill is the only Celtic manager to win a derby this season after the Premier Sports Cup semi-final in November.
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