It was a first Rangers win at Celtic Park since 2020. And in front of a sizeable away support for the first time in years.
Yet Stuart McLeod, Stepps, reckons the Hotline won’t be up to much! He said: “Be a quiet Hotline this week after being told all week about Rangers being demolished and Jota running riot. Jota was invisible and the team playing extra time and penalties in the Mickey Mouse tournament on Thursday night turned over the European superpower on their own patch.”
Quiet? Oh Stuart, how wrong you are…
Let’s start with the blue half of Glasgow, shall we? Joe Graham, Garrowhill, said: “Celtic 2 Rangers 3…Brendan 0 Barry 1. This is just the start of a New Rangers. When the takeover happens and the millions come in, we will be the long awaited leaders again. The 49ers can save some of their millions investment by keeping Barry as he has already proved he can be another Walter Smith. He has turned the departed Clement’s failures into a team believing again with fight and desire to win at all cost. I said roll on Sunday on my last Hotline comment, so it is roll on now the future.”
Alan Flett said: “There’s only one Barry Ferguson! Once again Rangers have proved we are the best team in the country when we bring our A game. If the projected takeover goes through, Celtic won’t see us for dust. Millions in the bank, bang average team, no ambition, just about sums Celtic up!”
Alfie Mullin, London, said: “There was only one outcome you could expect from the Celtic vs Rangers match today and that was a Rangers win. You see, Celtic are not used to playing against teams who have European matches in April.”
Mark Smith, Cumbernauld, said: “Another convincing win by ‘rookie manager’ Barry Ferguson. I should imagine Hotline regulars such as Gordon Ashley will be conspicuous by their absence here after a dubbing by a convincing Rangers ‘team with no money’… bring on the 49ers investment and let’s see what happens next season.”
And there was more than one message for poor Gordon as Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “Gordon Ashley spotted at Prestwick Airport after Sunday’s Old Firm Game. What price for Igamane, Diomande and Raskin, Gordon?”
Brendan Rodgers said he’s not seen much change in Rangers since Barry Ferguson took over, but Peter Cooperwhite said: “You must see a difference now Brendan in Barry Ferguson’s Gers, and a gulf the only gulf is your big mouth. Then again when you always play against a good European side you struggle to beat them. A few good signings next season and let’s bring it on.”
Switching gears and the Celtic fans aren’t taking it especially well.
Benjamin Clarke, Balornock, said: “That’s one of the most embarrassing performances from Celtic yet, I thought both teams were playing in green and white in the first half by the amount of bad passing. We made a poor league team look good.”
Sean Dolan, Chicago, said: “Congratulations to The Rangers. Deserved win against a panicked Celtic. Let’s not have the ‘off day’ nonsense from the Celtic fans. This was just not good enough. McCowan was hiding most of the game. Clearly not a capable replacement for McGregor. Engels not good enough on the ball. Needs too much time. And once again Idah was invisible at No.9.”
“I said it when Hibs won a few weeks back. Celtic cannot handle the high press and The Rangers showed up with the right tactic. Back to the drawing board again Brendan. Once again you’ve been found wanting in the big games.”
David Brennan said: “Take nothing away from Rangers, they thoroughly deserved it. Celtic’s defence? Especially Schmeichel, Carter-Vickers and Schlupp were dreadful. Just as well the league is finished, should be ashamed of themselves!”
Steve McSherry, Uddingston, said: “Brendan Rodgers should come out and apologise for that first half performance. We were so poor it was unbelievable, we made them look decent. The second half was better and we should have won the game comfortably, however we shot ourselves in the foot on the first half. I thought losing to Hibs was bad but losing to such an average side is unforgivable.”
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