Celtic, Rangers meet in first final of season

The first Scottish honour of the season, the League Cup, will be at stake on Sunday when holders Rangers clash against old nemesis Celtic in the final at Hampden Park.

Such contests between the Old Firm rivals are always nail-biting affairs and attract a huge television audience.

In the semi-final, Rangers had a 'walkover' on Falkirk following a comfortable 3-0 win but Celtic had to stretch every sinew to get past Dundee United.

The Terrors, beaten by Rangers on penalties in last year's final after a 2-2 draw, had to go through the same shoot-out ordeal against Celtic before bowing out of the tournament. This time, the two teams required 21 spot-kicks to determine a winner after a 0-0 draw.

The fans were on the edge of their seats with all ten penalties being scored before going to sudden death. The unfortunate Lee Wilkie, who missed the penalty that cost United the final last year, again failed to convert, but his counterpart at Celtic also felt the pressure to keep the score locked. Then, Willo Flood failed to convert for Dundee United and Scott McDonald made sure that Celtic would meet Rangers in the ultimate showdown.

Celtic and Rangers have dominated ten of the last 12 competitions as the Gers won six to their rivals' four. This will be the first Celtic-Rangers League Cup final since 2003.

Rangers, in the shadow of Celtic in the last years, seem to be turning things round lately. But the championship crown eluded them again last season as Celtic claimed a third title in a row or their fourth in five years.

Rangers won both domestic competitions in 2007/08. After the League Cup, they went on to topple Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup final.

The League Cup lost some of its allure when it was announced that the winning team would not get a UEFA Cup berth any more.

Yet, the Scottish League insisted that there was no danger that the much-criticised competition would stop.

Good news for the association and the game in Scotland was the signing of a new sponsorship deal for the tournament for the next two years. The Co-operative Insurance have extended their contract until 2011.

Rangers boost

Rangers were lifted with the news that two of their injured players, midfielder Lee McCulloch and attacker Nacho Novo, would be fit for the final.

Manager Walter Smith said McCulloch has been very impressive in his holding role and his return would be a boost.

John Fleck, 17, will be keen to claim a second winners' medal after his appearance in the Scottish Cup final last year.

Celtic have problems in their front line. Stand-in striker Ben Hutchinson, who has scored 15 goals in the club's second strings, could be given more chance to prove his worth.

A fortnight ago a flood of goals arrived as Celtic beat St Mirren 7-1 at Celtic Park. Yet, the Buddies had other ideas last week when they knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win.

Statistics

In the all-time Scottish League Cup history, now in its 62nd season, Rangers lead with 22 honours. Celtic have lifted the silverware on 12 occasions.

In addition to the 12 clashes in the League Cup final, the Old Firm duo have played each other on 33 other occasions in various stages of the competition.

Celtic lead Rangers 16-15 in such matches that also feature two draws.

Yet, in finals, it is Rangers who hold the upperhand 8-4 as follows:

19-10-1957: Celtic-Rangers 7-1 (Mochan 2, McPhail 3, Wilson, Fernie pen - Simpson)

24-10-1964: Rangers-Celtic 2-1 (Forrest 2 - Johnstone)

23-10-1965: Celtic-Rangers 2-1 (Hughes 2 pens - Young og)

29-10-1966: Celtic-Rangers 1-0 (Lennox)

24-10-1970: Rangers-Celtic 1-0 (D. Johnstone)

25-10-1975: Rangers-Celtic 1-0 (MacDonald)

18-03-1978: Rangers-Celtic 2-1 (Cooper, Smith - Edvaldsson)

04-12-1982: Celtic-Rangers 2-1 (Nicholas, MacLeod - Bett)

25-03-1984: Rangers-Celtic 3-2 aet (McCoist 3, 2 pens - McClair, Reid pen)

26-10-1986: Rangers-Celtic 2-1 (Durrant, Cooper pen - McClair)

28-10-1991: Rangers-Celtic 2-1 aet (Walters, Gough - Elliott)

16-03-2003: Rangers-Celtic 2-1 (Caniggia, Lovenkrands - Larsson)

Note: All finals have been played at Hampden Park.

Route to Hampden Park

Celtic

Third round: Home vs Livingston 4-0 (Loovens, Samaras 2, Brown).

Quarter-final: Away vs Kilmarnock 3-1 (McDonald, Nakamura, McGeady).

Semi-final: (Hampden Park) vs Dundee United 0-0 aet, Celtic won 11-10 on penalties.

Rangers

Third round: Away vs Partick Thistle 2-1 after extra time (McKeown, Boyd).

Quarter-final: Home vs Hamilton Academicals 2-0 (Boyd, Lafferty).

Semi-final: (Hampden Park) vs Falkirk 3-0 (Novo 2, Boyd).