Rangers rulebook rages at Celtic evading justice as Hotline erupts over an act of kindness

Celtic head to Hampden for Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final full of confidence after enjoying Trophy Day at Parkhead.

Brendan Rodgers and his team got their hands on the country’s biggest prize when lifting the Premiership and now a double is in their sights. Most punters are jubilant and Gordon Ashley, Ayr, said: “What a great time to be a Celtic fan. £70 million in the bank with £80 million still to go in by the time Liel Abada, Jeremie Frimpong and Champions League cash clears. There is no way back for Rangers.”

Bud Hay, Dumfries, continued: “Well that’s it for another season. Philippe Clement blamed Michael Beale when he went in charge. The bragging rights are gone unless you win the Scottish Cup, but you have got to beat champions first.” However, not everyone was going wild and Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, said: “One would have thought they had won the World Cup with the over-the-top celebrations. It was only a poor Scottish league and it’s embarrassing no other club outside of the Old Firm has won it in the last 39 years. Their stranglehold must be broken as it has become a two-horse race.”

David Bryce, Troon, said: “Well done to Celtic for winning the league. Eight points is a significant margin. Saturday’s performance was flat and dire. Passing side and back all game. Only Luis Palma and Anthony Ralston did themselves justice. Stephen Welsh is so poor and, along with Nicolas Kuhn, should never play for the club again.”

Carl McCoy, Paisley, said: “Why was Joe Hart allowed to embrace all of his team-mates as he left the pitch against St Mirren on Saturday without being booked for time wasting?”

Rangers want a Hampden success to dull the pain of losing the title, but the 3-3 draw with Hearts did nothing to lift some spirits. Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “This defence is shocking. 3-1 up and draw. No way can these players stay. Captain goes missing. Enough is enough. Get rid of and sell as many as possible. What is happening with our youth coming through to the first team? Right now there are players in Scotland that would be great for Rangers and fans know who they are.”

Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “Lawrence Shankland scored his 31st goal of the season. Sadly he’s not a Rangers player as Cyriel Dessers missed his usual stockpile of sitters and sadly is a Rangers player. It’s time the Ibrox board remedied this situation and get Shankland ASAP for next season.”

Linda Gray is more positive and said: “It is a one off game and, as long as Clement picks the right team, we’ve as good a chance as them.”

Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, said: “It’s clear and obvious that Rangers through injury and too many games were burnt out at the end of the season. For Rangers to stick in so long with Celtic after playing twice a week for most of the season was incredible. Celtic deserve their title but they don’t deserve Europe. Rangers played so many games more than Celtic and boosted the Scottish coefficient, but if Celtic were truly the better team, then surely they could make a glimmer of impact in Europe.”

The management situation at Hibs led John Scott, Grassmoor, to say: “With the greatest respect to David Gray, don’t for a moment consider the Hibs job. Not yet, anyway.

“They’ll still be talking about you in a 100 years time, so do nothing to damage that legacy. I’ve seen 24 managers come and go. Of them all, the one that stands out foremost in my memory was Pat Stanton. Still to this day I recall the chants of: Stanton must go. So don’t do it David. Follow Ian Murray’s example and start your managerial career well away from the Hibees.”