Misfiring front men Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras both started on the bench at Hampden Park whilst midfielder Aiden McGeady was deployed in support of Scott McDonald.
Gordon Strachan's unusual line-up yesterday raised many an eyebrow but the glistening Scottish League Cup resting in the trophy cabinet at Celtic Park today is proof that the manager called it just right. With McGeady deployed in a more direct forward support role Gary Caldwell was drafted into his secondary midfield task whilst Glenn Loovens took over the Heid's defensive duties.
"We have been struggling of late to create chances and score goals," said Caldwell. "And to be fair to the manager he decided to shake things up a bit in a cup final and it worked. I thought we played well for long spells. Aiden did well in the hole with Scott and it maybe spooked them a bit in the first half because we were well on top. We struggled a bit in the second half but came strong again. We have a big squad, we must use it and I think we will from now until the end of the season."
In truth Celtic were never in any great danger from this dispirited Rangers side and their first cup final win over their city rivals in twenty years was well deserved. The biggest surprise of the day was that this weak willed Hun side took the Bhoys to extra-time but as soon as Darren O'Dea's first goal for over two years hit the back of the net the game was over. Fellow Irishman Aiden McGeady sealed the victory in the final moments when he converted the penalty awarded when Kirk Broadfoot hauled him down inside the box. The Hun also received his marching orders.
"It's great to win against Rangers," continued Gary Caldwell. "It's great for the fans. I was only six when Celtic last beat Rangers in a cup final but we got the win this time and I suppose we will be part of the club's history. We stepped up a gear in extra time and we could maybe have scored more. We probably just edged it and we deserved the win."
It was a wonderful victory yesterday and it's great to place that first piece of silverware into our trophy room but the main focus for the squad is still the SPL championship flag and the pursuit of four-in-a-row. "We have to be focused." said the Celtic number five "Next week is a massive game against Dundee United. We are three points clear at the top and that's what gives us the edge. If we can win every game until the end of the season we will win the league. That is going to be our aim and we have to focus on that to try to get four in a row."