The Light Blues thumped the Hoops 3-0 in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox.It was a stellar performance from Rangers, who will head to Parkhead for the first league clash between the teams next Sunday.
For Celtic and manager Martin O’Neill, there’s much to consider ahead of doing battle with their rivals again.
The Hoops spent big this summer with several key signings.
The biggest of those was the club-record signing of Kasper Hogh in a deal worth £11million plus add-ons
The Denmark striker, 25, returned to the side in midweek against St Johnstone after missing the previous three games with an injury.
It’s been a mixed start to life at Celtic for Hogh.
He’s only scored in one of his seven appearances since his move from Bodo/Glimt, albeit that was a hat-trick against Kilmarnock in August.
Fellow summer signing Camilo Duran has impressed – and scored – when played through the middle.
So there was plenty of talk ahead of the game about whether or not Hogh could be left on the bench.
When the starting 11 was confirmed, however, the Hoops’ record signing was there, leading the line.
Duran also started, but was moved out to the right hand side.
It proved to be a difficult afternoon for Hogh and he ended up being subbed-off on 64 minutes, not long after Kevin Kelsy had struck to put the Gers 2-0 up.
The striker’s performance came under the microscope after full time and former Rangers man Andy Halliday wasn’t holding back on his assessment.
He blasted the Celtic forward’s contribution in a brutal takedown.
Halliday told Premier Sports: “There will be questions asked of Celtic this week and in particular, for me, Kasper Hogh.
“He was brought to the football club, he’s blown hot and cold so far but I’ll tell you what – he was absolutely freezing today.
“His contribution to the game on the ball, off the ball, his reaction when he lost the ball, it was him that it bounced off for the second goal.
“You see no desire, no willingness to get back in and defend for his team.
“I’m sure Celtic fans and Martin O’Neill will be really disappointed in certain players.
“They’ll have to show a better version of themselves next week.”
