The goals were missing but there was no doubting Celtic’s superiority over Sevco at Hampden yesterday.
A common question in the run up to the match was which of Mark Warburton’s side would find a place in the Celtic squad.
After another demonstration of the massive gulf between the two clubs the answer to that question is crystal clear- NONE.
Brendan Rodgers had the luxury of leaving Emilio Izaguirre, Liam Henderson and Ryan Christie sitting in the stand as he juggled his options while others like Kris Commons, Efe Ambrose, Dedryck Boyata and Efe Ambrose were missing from the match-day squad.
It’s all a far cry from the misery of Hampden in May when a faltering Celtic side managed to lose on penalties to Warburton’s side. In hindsight, and as some stated at the time, that result was the best thing that could have happened to Celtic- and the worst for the deluded people across the city.
Only two of Brendan Rodgers signings made the starting XI but within a few short months the hoops boss has transformed the careers of Scott Brown, James Forrest and Tom Rogic among others.
Without doubt the Irishman has got man management down to a fine art. He gets the best out of players and gives them the belief that they are contributing to a team effort.
In any team however there are always stand out performers, CLICK HERE for the five men that mattered most as Celtic qualified for the final of the Betfred Cup.
MOUSSA DEMBELE
At times he toiled, he snatched at some chances but at the moment that mattered he delivered.
The history of Celtic is littered with iconic moments with the flick of the young Frenchman’s heal set to be recalled time and time again by those that witnessed and celebrated the goal.
Brendan Rodgers has total belief in his first signing, three months into his Celtic career Dembele is already the subject of many favourable comparisons.
SCOTT BROWN
To this set of eyes the Celtic skipper was the man-of-the-match.
On various occasions he used his physique to secure possession rubbishing the notion that he was all washed up following last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat.
The combination of a new manager and retirement from international football seem to have worked wonders for his career, at this stage of the season it’s hard to find a more influential player in Rodgers’ side.
SCOTT SINCLAIR
It wasn’t his day but his header never dropped as he chased a place in the final.
Twice he was sent through one-on-one only to be foiled by Matt Gilks while an almost perfect free kick came off the crossbar. Would he have scored in the 81st minute if he hadn’t been chopped by Lee Wallace?
Sinclair’s willingness to work and link up play with Dembele are priceless. Despite a rough couple of seasons in England Rodgers was determined to get his man and is now getting the same rewards he enjoyed at Swansea.
JOZO SIMUNOVIC
The pressure was on as he stepped in for Kolo Toure but the Croatian breezed through the whole match.
There were a few timely interventions but his main moment was blocking a Jason Holt shot that looked bound for the net.
His Celtic career has barely got off the ground in the last 14 months but yesterday’s performance was more than a marker for what Celtic can expect in the future from the £4m defender.
LEIGH GRIFFITHS
He was only on the park for 20 minutes but there was no doubt that Leigh Griffiths fancied this match.
Playing on the right or left of Dembele he put the frighteners up the Sevco defence whenever he looked to get on the ball.
Lee Wallace was panicked into conceding possession for Celtic’s goal but it took a cool head and expert touch to present Dembele with the goal that separated the two teams. Has he done enough to start at Ross County on Wednesday night?