Ange Postecoglou Is 90 Minutes From His First Celtic Final. That’s Massive.

So we did what we were expected to do. We secured the win, we booked our place in the next round, and we march on into a Hampden semi final.

Ange Postecoglou knew what the job was tonight and he made sure we got it done.

There are a lot of snipers already taking pot-shots because he didn’t put the big Greek striker onto the pitch tonight, but this man doesn’t have to answer to anyone when his team wins and tonight they did so quite comfortably.

The team did what it had to do. No more, no less. I said earlier that it didn’t matter what we did because we weren’t going to answer any questions tonight even if we’d stuck the ball in the net ten times. So no euphoria, but a sense of satisfaction.

It’s been a long day so I’ll do a proper report tomorrow, and a discussion of who we get in the cup semi final.

(I want Gerrard’s mob. I really do.)

In the meantime, here are the player ratings for tonight’s game.

But before you read them think on this; Ange Postecoglou is 90 minutes from his first final as Celtic boss.

That’s big time. That’s massive.

Hart

Had almost nothing to do and did it well. That’s as good as it needs to be.

6/10. Not a lot needed but did what he had to.

Ralston

Some silly passes but solid enough. He’s going to play a lot for us this season, even accounting for signing Juranovic, and he deserves to.

6/10. A decent enough display from a player who we all enjoy watching now.

Montgomery

It will be interesting to see where this kid ends up as this campaign goes on. He has a chance to make the left-back slot his own, as it’s now a straight contest between him and Bolingoli until Taylor is back. He did little wrong, but I’m still not convinced he’s a left back.

6/10. Decent performance, just had nothing to do.

Cameron Vickers

Strolled it. He looks a class above any of the players he’s come up against in Scotland so far. I really like this guy. He is comfortable on the ball, tackles well, can move forward with the ball and can do it in the air. Excellent game.

7/10. Sign him now, Celtic. Don’t even mess about with this. 

Starfelt

Growing into the team now and didn’t do much wrong on a night where, granted, the quality wasn’t up to much. He and Vickers are going to be the first and second choice centre backs, and that will help both of them the longer they play together.

6/10. Getting very good at this defensive lark he is!

McCarthy

Big game for him tonight and I thought he was excellent in his time on the pitch. Commanded his midfield arena and got an assist. Let’s see how long the naysayers can continue giving him stick. Too good a player for us to take his critics too seriously, and will show it.

7/10. That was much more like it James McCarthy.

Turnbull

Did very well tonight and scored a fantastic goal. He is a huge asset to us but just needs to find that wee bit of consistency to show us what he’s got.

7/10. Brilliant strike on a good night for him.

Rogic

Another excellent display. You know, for a guy who’s allegedly not a guy who can run all over the pitch every week he’s sure as Hell starting to look like a guy who can run about the pitch every week. Ange has found a player we didn’t know was there, a grafter as well as a magician.

6/10. I love this guy right now. I’d have chased him before this window but he’s indispensible now.

Abada

A cracking first half, but faded a wee bit in the second. But he scored one again tonight doing what he didn’t do at the weekend; getting into the box and making their defence sweat. That was much more like it.

7/10. A true asset to this team. He is going to be a major player for us.

Ajeti

The comeback continues. I thought he put in a great shift and although he didn’t score he made their defence sweat every time the ball was near him. He can offer us something and there’s no doubt about it. He’s starting to show us what he can do.

6/10. Hard working display from our striker. He’s definitely starting to settle into this team.

Jota

Star of the show, just as we had hoped he would be. Like Abada, he got inside the box. He ran at defenders. He didn’t waste his time with those chips into the box, but was direct and hungry and his goal was excellent and it came at just the right time for us. Little by little the major talent is emerging and I reckon he will give defenders absolute nightmares when he’s fully up to speed.

8/10. Great footballer, starting to show that quality now.

Soro

Came in and did what he had to do. I am a fan, as everyone is aware. The guy is a fine footballer and only needs to settle down and he’ll give McGregor and McCarthy a fight for that midfield holding role, as well as allowing the manager to try more compact systems.

5/10. Wasn’t on long enough for a higher score but no complaints.

Bitton

Mr Reliable. Nir Bitton is the quintessential “good soldier”, who will play where he’s told without a fuss. You know what? He has his critics too but he would walk into any other team in this league and that’s the truth of it.

5/10. Expect to see a lot more of him this season, although I hope it’s in midfield and not at the back.

Scales

Not on long but looked very sharp when he took the field. I liked what little I saw.

5/10. Nice way to make your debut young man.

Juranovic

Juranovic came on tonight and played as a wide right midfielder! Since signing this is the third position he’s played in! And he did little wrong. Don’t expect to see him play there often, and nor should he, but composed enough.

5/10. I like this bhoy, and when he’s settled in and playing in his normal position he’ll be quality.

Ange Postecoglou

Picked a good team, rotated well, made the right substitutions to protect the players and got the tactics and the style of play absolutely right. He is already taking some stick for not putting our big Greek striker on but so what? This man is 90 minutes from his first cup final as Celtic boss and that’s all he should be caring about. The big guy made sure the players got the message tonight, and they ran at the defence and kept it on the deck. Totally different look when we’re not putting dumb crosses into the box. This team needs to understand that this is a better way to play.

7/10. Well dont big chap and ignore the Monday Morning Quarterbacks trying to second guess you over Giakoumakis.