John Kennedy was bullish heading into this game and claimed Celtic were still the best side in the country.
He was ridiculed, even by club legend Chris Sutton, before Kennedy suggested his words were twisted and he meant Celtic were “on their day” the best team.
Yesterday’s cup tie was just another when it wasn’t Celtic’s day.
Rangers, on the other hand, didn’t have to reach their top level to win the match. It was all a bit easy for Steven Gerrard’s men, giving them their third victory in four Old Firm fixtures this season.
Tactically, it was always going to be interesting to see how Gerrard played it - and he got the set-up spot on.
Aribo playing higher on the right with Arfield coming into the midfield three on the same flank helped combat Celtic’s diamond shape and ultimately gave Rangers the platform to use the wide areas to great effect. The hapless Diego Laxalt will not be able to get much sleep this week because when he closes his eyes he will see Joe Aribo and Nathan Patterson running at him.
And of course, it was that Rangers side where the goals came from.
First Aribo’s cross set up Davis’ overhead effort - which was quite incredible given he’s not often in those kinds of areas these days.
The Nigerian was great again for the second. He sent Laxalt to the shop to buy his half-time snacks before his cross found the net via Kenny who is up there with the Uruguayan in the poor full-back stakes.
But it was the influence of Kent and Aribo along with Davis, who played the game in his slippers, that made it easy for Rangers to win the game. Kent and Aribo caused all sorts of problems in the first half and got after Celtic – something the team hadn’t done in the previous two matches.
Steven Davis is in his element during these encounters. The stats boffins suggest that he’s in decline. Now I love a stat or two but the old-fashioned eye test blows that statistical theory out of the water. He’s 36 and running these matches. Sunday was a top performance and if you compare him to the elder statesman in Celtic’s midfield, Brown looks every inch an Aberdeen player at this point.
And while Celtic will point to the Edouard sitter and penalty miss, along with the Elyounoussi and Welsh chances to suggest they could still be in the cup, the maturity of the second-half Rangers performance was pleasing.
First half, we saw Rangers blow them away with two goals then sit off and keep the shape. Okay, they did ride their luck a little but they have shown again they can do both sides of the game with equal composure.
It’s a sign of champions. A status that they fully deserve this season and they can only hope to build on next weekend as St Johnstone visit Ibrox in the quarter-final. Both of those games may actually prove to be tougher than this one turned out to be.
I think the cup tie can be summed up with Rangers taking their chances whereas Celtic were miles off it in that regard. But in a more microscopic view, it goes back to the full-backs and midfield players. Patterson, Barisic and Davis were full of energy, endeavour, heart and quality. Then you have Brown, Laxalt and Kenny. If Celtic would have left them on the bus, I doubt anyone would have noticed.
The tide has turned and yesterday proved how nonsensical Kennedy’s comments were - no matter which way he elected to spin them.
It was a comfortable win for Rangers and further proof of the wonderful job that Steven Gerrard and his players are doing.
2016 is the last time Celtic lost a Scottish Cup tie before this one. Rangers then went on to lose the final to Hibs but this team look in the mood for trophies.
Many of these players have been doubted and mocked over the last few years and for them to be on the cusp of a double will give great satisfaction.
It’s brilliant for the fans to have the bragging rights back while their Celtic friends implode and refuse to accept that they are second-best in the city. Glasgow is 100 per cent blue.
