With Rangers set to finish the season trophyless, is the flak heading Michael Beale's way fair?
Keith Jackson: That's simply the price of the ticket. Beale was desperate to throw himself into the firing line so has to deal with the consequences of repeated failure in the biggest fixture of them all. He’ll have to end this run of derby defeats sharpish or it could crush him completely.
David McCarthy: Comes with the territory. That’s four cracks at Celtic and no wins. It means he has to start next season flying with a new team because so many of the current side simply cannot come to terms with this Celtic side.
Andy Newport: He’s had four gos at Celtic and has barely laid a glove on them. Fair or not it’s the only measure he’ll be marked against.
Fraser Wilson: Not really. This was an all too familiar tale of Beale’s side getting close to the Hoops only to be undone by horrific defending and a glaring miss. The Rangers boss must be tearing his hair out. It’s not how he’d have wanted the season to end but he can only be truly judged after a full season.
Celtic took a giant step towards the Treble but who was your star man against Rangers?
Keith: Cameron Carter-Vickers was a colossus and not for the first time in this fixture. The American bullied Alfredo Morelos into submission in the first half before holding Celtic’s defence together under a second-half onslaught. Outstanding.
David: Cameron Carter-Vickers was an absolute rock at the heart of the Celtic defence and the man that, for all the Hoops’ flair, this win was built upon.
Andy: Cameron Carter-Vickers had to stand strong as Gers threw the kitchen sink at it in the second half. His stunning goal-line clearance typified the commitment levels Celtic have shown all season.
Fraser: Defensively the whole team, but Carter-Vickers defended his box like a true warrior. A heroic goal-line clearance on top of the countless times he got his head on dangerous balls into the box. Positionally outstanding as well.
Is the gap between the Old Firm bigger now than it was 12 months ago?
Keith: Good players make good teams. Rangers have lost Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo from last year but Nico Raskin and Todd Cantwell have added some much needed quality. Beale will have to recruit smartly this summer to prevent a gulf from opening up.
David: Not necessarily. The actual matches are close affairs but Celtic are stronger mentally and unless Beale finds different personnel to address that situation, not much will change.
Andy: Yes, undoubtedly but it’s likely to be a much different Light Blues lineup next year. Beale has to get his summer business right.
Fraser: The league table and soon the trophy cabinet will tell us yes. Yet the single goal wins suggest there’s not much between the teams. Despite that Rangers need to upgrade in goal, in defence and up front. A huge summer window awaits for them.
How much of a chance do Inverness stand of lifting the trophy in June?
Keith: None. Celtic are too strong and too close to creating another bit of history. The Highlanders won’t roll over for them but neither will they get in the way of another domestic treble.
David: Absolutely no chance. Celtic will win the final comfortably. They’ll say all the right things, of course, but the Treble was won by them at Hampden yesterday.
Andy: None and that’s no disrespect to the Caley Thistle squad. Premiership teams have barely laid a glove on the champions-elect so there’s little hope for the Highlanders. They deserve their day out though and should enjoy the occasion.
Fraser: History tells us they have a chance and no matter how small, they have to believe they can upset the longest of odds. But, boy oh boy, it would be a shock that would make Darvel’s win over Aberdeen seem ordinary.
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