One Down Ronny. One Down.

Celtic took a massive step towards the domestic treble today with a fine victory over Dundee Utd in the Scottish League Cup Final.

The win was sealed by two goals from midfield players; Kris Commons in the first half and James Forrest in the second.

It is Ronny’s first trophy, in his first season, and the door to the treble is now wide open.

This is a fantastic day for him, and for our club.

This is a team, and a manager, who have taken a fair amount of criticism this season, but there is something good going on here, as is evidenced in the way they played in the two games against Milan and by their steady improvement in form all season.

I feel delighted today, not just as a supporter but as an observer of the game, because this is one in the eye for the idiots in our media who ignored the glaring failures of the McCoist reign whilst pouring scorn and opprobrium on a manager who had just set foot in the country and was trying to instil his own ideas in a group of players not used to them.

Deila is a great coach. He has to be, and he’s proving it.

No man can accomplish what he has in the game and not have something in his locker.

Those who scoff about him having “only won things in Norway” might want to consider, for a minute, the extent of what he achieved in his home country.

The man took a club with no prior history of major honours to a cup win and then a league title.

That stands up. That makes you special, regardless of where it’s achieved.

Now he has added a Scottish League Cup to his list of successful endeavours.

Of course, Ronny wants more than that.

Only two managers in our history – Jock Stein and Martin O’Neill – have ever won the domestic treble.

To do it would put him in the most exalted company of all.

The historical moment is unique. This man has a chance to build something truly special. He has the time and he must surely get the resources.

This victory today will send the team into the remainder of the season on a real high. If we beat Dundee Utd again on Wednesday, putting us in the Scottish Cup semi-final, the end is in sight … which is to take nothing away from Aberdeen and Inverness.

Momentum alone should drive us along at that point.

Certain players have risen to the challenge like Ronny.

Foremost amongst them is Stefan Johansen, who won the Man of the Match award today and is in the midst of a truly fantastic season.

I love this guy; I think he’s the best passer of a ball in the team and the dynamism he gives us from the middle of the park makes him a guaranteed starter no matter who else is fit, no matter the competition for places.

Nir Biton has also become a sensation. He, Brown and Johansen are the fulcrum of this formidable looking team, giving the manager the best headache in the world as he contemplates who else gets in the midfield.

It impacts most severely on Liam Henderson, but to be frank it would take a very special player to keep these guys out of the team.

The fairy-tale has come true for Craig Gordon most of all.

His journey from the horror of that injury, the one that almost cost him his career to being back in the Scotland side, playing against AC Milan and now a trophy winner (with more to come) has been true Roy of the Rovers stuff. His contribution to this season has been immense.

Kris Commons today proved, again, why he’s so vital to us going forward.

He gives everything, and he is deadly in front of goal. His reactions for the first goal were excellent, first forcing the keeper into a great save and then putting away the rebound … Commons has justified his new deal and then some.

I am also thrilled for my namesake, James Forrest, who has bagged his first goal this season and given the manager food for thought.

His penalty kick was pretty forgettable, but he was up against a keeper in absolutely superb form.

All in all, I’m a happy man tonight. This team is on its way to something special.

One down friends. One down.