Oh Cower Of Scotland – Celtic Triumph In Real Glasgow Derby

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·9 March 2026

Oh Cower Of Scotland – Celtic Triumph In Real Glasgow Derby

Oh Cower Of Scotland – Celtic Triumph In The Real Glasgow Derby…

Union Bears with flares.Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

As a shadow Celtic side defied overwhelming odds to beat a seething the Rangers outfit at a seething Ibrox, the reality of this toxic fixture became evident before, during, and after the Scottish Cup quarter-final ended in blood and tears.

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There’s no flowering it up; in the words of Archie McPherson during the battle of Hampden in the 1980 Scottish Cup Final, “These fans hate each other!”

Celtic fansl at the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

In summary, the Ibrox hierarchy refused Celtic fans their traditional ‘Tifo’, clearly still smarting from ‘surrendering’ the ‘Free Broomloan’ stand to 7,900 bhoyant cock-a-hooped supporters. The Tifo was found, ‘tactically’ burned outside the ground pre-match. Some Celtic fans then stormed the entrance to Ibrox, brushing aside stewards and swelling the Celtic end, gaining entry through the turnstiles with ‘alleged’ fake tickets.

TIX FOR TACT?

Oh, and there was a game on too; a doomed one as far as the hoops fans were concerned once the team-sheet was announced. Shorn of our defrocked net ‘keeper, Schmeichel, the defensive battler, Alistair Johnston, the talismatic KT, that irreplaceable rock, Carter-Vickers, Jota On The Wing, midfield powerhouse, Arne Engels, recent powerful striking acquisition, Ihenacho, but then…

Martin O’Neill at Ibrox. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

The shock absence of skipper Callum McGregor had us holding our heads in our hands as we pondered yet another weekend of angst, and a goading capitulation at our greatest rivals’ crib.

HOW WRONG WERE WE?

Yes, in our melancholy we overlooked the genius of Martin O’Neill, Shaun Maloney, and Mark Fotheringham, the men who have dragged Celtic up from the mud and set us on solid ground in a season of shocks and pleasant last-minute delights.

A shock 1-0 victory in Germany over VfB Stuttgart; a tough battling 2-1 win up at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie; a rousing comeback in the 2-2 epic last weekend at Ibrox, and now?

In this game, the Celtic reserves forfeited class, skill and genuine chances up front for grit, graft, and desire as this body of men went to war against a team built for battle. Think Helm’s Deep…

Danny Rohl at Ibrox. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Danny Rohl has packed his side with muscle-bound, aggressive combatants, men who will run (and kick) all day, but lack the craft to consistently win the battles which could win them the war. Celtic repelled them, time and again.

Viljami Sinisalo kept goal as if his life depended on it; the Scottish Cup ambitions of Celtic certainly fell into that category. The Finn was immense as he plucked from the air, and flew across his area like a literal superman, defying the Rangers strikers and midfielders who peppered his goal throughout.

The green defensive collective was more than stoic when the chips were down, (for most of the game to be honest!) The boys in blue (unsurprisingly) dominated a depleted Celtic squad for large periods, but cult-hero Julian Araujo, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, and young Benji Arthur, were colossal as they won tackle after tackle, header after header.

The Celtic support at Ibrox after Celtic won the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

The Rangers flooded the midfield (again) and kept our defence on the back foot for a considerable time, but to no avail. We were second best to most second balls I have to say.

Daizen Maeda scored a stunning diving header before half-time, but VAR deemed Liam Scales offside after protracted celebrations among the faithful. This was a severe blow as it came against the run of play.

Emmanuel Fernandez may carry the Lord’s name but was less than divine when he gleefully claimed a goal despite clearly handling the ball into the net. The impediment was clear, and the ‘Ger was in purgatory when his sin was exposed to the world.

Celtic celebrations after Celtic won the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

After much to-ing and fro-ing, extra time produced no clear winner, and the dreaded penalty shootout was played out in front of the Union Bears who populated the Copeland Road end.

We watched the drama from the confines of the Brisbane Celtic Supporters Club in the Lord Alfred Hotel, and our nerves were shredded. As ‘Tavpen’ stepped up to take the first kick in front of his own, I uttered, “He doesn’t miss, does he?”

Dejection for the Rangers after Celtic won the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

A reassuring hand on my shaking shoulder was followed by a whisper. “Aye, he will this time. Keep the faith!”

My dear friend Paul Mochan, (grandson of the legendary 7-1 League Cup Final v them goalscorer, Neilly,) was prophetic as the Rangers captain thrashed his shot off the crossbar, silencing his support. The LA went mental.

Subsequent efforts found the target until Gassama faced a ‘must-score’ situation, and the Ibrox sub sought out Neil Armstrong’s ‘alleged’ flag as he blasted wildly over the bar.

Celtic celebrations at Ibrox after Celtic won the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

The noise from the Celtic End was epic, but there was still one more to go. Much-maligned striker, ‘Tam’ Cvancara stepped back and looked at the union jack-bedecked massed ranks in front of him. Some had already left the building after Gassama fluffed his lines, but still…

Tam was coolness personified as he gave Butland the eyes before slotting into his opposite corner.

BEDLAM!

It was carnage in the LA as we literally flew across tables to hug and scream and sing and cry. The Free Broomloan went tonto and showed the Rangers fans what they had been sadly missing over the last decade.

Some of the more enthusiastic youngsters ran onto the pitch to embrace the exultant players in front of them. That was unwise, although understandable.

Scotland’s Shame – theRangers fans attacking the Celtic support at Ibrox after Celtic won the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

In time honoured fashion, the ‘Bears’ in the Copeland Stand saw this as an opportunity to ingratiate themselves with the general populace. Hundreds of masked morons (with Spiderman masks???) ran the full length of the Ibrox turf to assault a Celtic coach and attack the Celtic fans in (and around) the away end.

Tomas Cvancara was seen throwing himself onto his cowering coach to save the man from serious injury, the striker appearing on tv later with specs of blood on his shirt.

Scotland’s Shame – theRangers fans attacking the Celtic support at Ibrox after Celtic won the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

The onions in blue went full metal jacket, launching flares, bottles and missiles into the Celtic End in retaliation for them celebrating a historic win on their turf. Despite a Celtic supporter from Dundee being attacked as he boarded his bus, kicked to the ground and his head and face stamped on several times, it’s an ‘Old Firm’ problem. Really?

Celtic fans are no angels at times, but…levels! This is no Old Firm, it’s a 14-year-old Glasgow Derby built on hatred and intolerance of Irish/Catholics. Celtic fans want no part of this unholy alliance -t he money men insist on it. It will always be thus.

As a shadow Celtic side defied overwhelming odds to beat a seething Rangers at a seething Ibrox, the reality of this toxic fixture became evident at the Scottish Cup tie ended in blood and tears. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

One of my esteemed co-writers for The Celtic Star summed it up;

1980-Celtic beat Rangers in a Cup Final. Celtic fans celebrate; Rangers fans attack.

2016-Hibs beat the Rangers in a Cup Final. Hibs fans celebrate; the Rangers fans attack.

2026-Celtic beat the Rangers in a Cup Q/F; Celtic fans celebrate; the Rangers fans attack.

A quiz question for you all. How many times have rival fans rioted after Rangers won a big game?

Two teams, one problem. When we should be celebrating a tremendous victory over our rivals we are left picking the bones out of a sordid, violent sporting post-mortem. I’ll leave others to trawl through the ashes whilst I’ll crack open a bottle of my Lenten Kombucha and toast my team who are defying the odds with some improbable results.

Here’s to a hopeful (peaceful?) League and Cup double!

Hail Hail!

Eddie Murray

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order