So just as I write this news has emerged that two Rangers players – Jordan Jones and George Edmundson – have breached Covid-19 protocols.
What happens next is anyone’s guess as let’s be honest the rules are about as clear as mud.
We all know what befell us and Aberdeen over players breaching protocols with games cancelled and fines imposed.
Both St.Mirren and Kilmarnock are currently undergoing investigation for their own recent issues with Covid outbreaks and could be looking at fines though they have already had games cancelled.
It’s not only a blow to Rangers but to the whole league as it once again undermines just how seriously the clubs are taking preventing outbreaks by observing the guidelines currently in place throughout the country.
Anyway, I’m sure there will be plenty made of it in the coming days and you would hope that there will be no special treatment.
Between our own Covid punishments plus Cup games such as yesterday Rangers now have played two games more than us and have a nine-point advantage at the top of the league which is never nice to see especially in the season that you are going for ten.
But we can only take each game as it comes and yesterday we ended a run with no wins in four by seeing off Aberdeen 2-0 at Hampden.
The Dons came into the tie with may expecting them to pull off the upset having suffered only one defeat in their last ten domestic matches which included a battling 3-3 draw with us last weekend up at Pittodrie.
Lacking only the injured Jonny Hayes from their strongest starting eleven big talismanic striker Sam Cosgrove returned and had a few good decent chances with headers at the back post via crosses from Matty Kennedy.
But we soon settled into things and Odsonne Edouard should have given us the lead early doors after a neat one-two with Christie only to be denied by a double save from Joe Lewis.
We did, however, take the lead thanks to a wonderful strike from Ryan Christie on 18 mins.
After some nice interplay on the right flank with Tom Rogic Christie found some space and unleashed a howitzer from about 25 yards out that curled past Lewis giving him no chance.
You won’t see a better goal.
About sixty seconds later the same player fluffed a chance at the back post but on 23 mins we did make it 2-0 as Edouard’s ball out wide looked too long for Rogic but the big Aussie somehow retrieved the situation and pulled out a fabulous cross to the back post that was buried by the in-form Mohamed Elyounoussi who just can’t stop scoring at the moment.
To be honest it was all over after that bar the shouting.
We continued to dominate until about ten mins into the second half after which fatigue predictably set-in considering we had played three games in seven days.
The game was seen out without too many hairy moments and as a result, we are now in our eighth consecutive cup final and are looking to win our twelfth straight trophy.
That would mean a quadruple treble as we continue to dominate in a way never before seen in Scottish football.
We will now take on Hearts in the final five days before Christmas.
It’s been well over four years since anyone but Celtic has won a major trophy in Scotland and we’ve successfully negotiated a pretty incredible 35 straight wins in all domestic cup competitions.
Impressive stuff.
Now it’s back into Europe and we face Czech champions Sparta Prague on Thursday at Celtic Park.
They haven’t had a domestic fixture in a month due to Covid lockdown restrictions imposed there back in early October.
As a result, they have looked well off the pace in their European encounters suffering heavy losses to both Lille (4-1) and AC Milan (3-0) and this is a great opportunity for us.
With the recent form, we’ve shown in our first half displays in France last Thursday and at Hampden yesterday I’m pretty buoyed and I’m actually looking forward to this one.
I’ll do a proper preview before the game but it’s starting to feel like we’ve turned a corner.
Keeping a clean sheet yesterday is another boost as Nir Bitton looked comfortable save one misplaced pass and Shane Duffy also produced a solid dispaly.
Tom Rogic was imperious at times and he is a must for the starting eleven.
....Always A Tim! 