THERE will be a Glasgow derby in the League Cup quarter-finals.
That sounds like headline news, but when the draw was made last night there was an unmistakable sense of letdown in some quarters, and relief in others, when Celtic and Rangers were kept apart.
Celtic will instead play Partick Thistle at Parkhead while Rangers are at home to St Johnstone. In the other ties the holders, Aberdeen, are at home to Hamilton Academical and Hibernian host Dundee United. The ties will be played on the midweek of October 28 and 29.
Ronny Deila, the Celtic manager, was relaxed last night after his team saw off Hearts 3-0. He denied having said that he wanted an Old Firm quarter-final. "That's not what I said. I said we would accept whatever we got. It is good that we are at home."
John Guidetti scored his first Celtic goal last night before a Kris Commons penalty and an Adam Eckersley own goal delivered a comfortable win in front of only 15,522 fans at Parkhead. Guidetti dedicated his goal to his dad, Mike, who celebrates his birthday today. As for Deila, he said the on-loan Manchester City forward could get 20 or even 30 goals in Scotland this season. "If he can do it in Holland [he was on loan at Feyenoord] he can do it in Scotland, I'm sure of that.
"I enjoyed the game tonight. What I've been delighted about in the past two games is that you see a team that works hard and does it together. We look much stronger now."
Jason Denayer suffered an ankle knock but he was substituted at half-time because he had been booked and risked a red card.
Robbie Neilson, the Hearts head coach, admitted his team had contributed to its own defeat. Jamie Walker missed a great chance, Osman Sow blasted a penalty sky high at 1-0 down and Eckersley scored his own goal. "At the first goal it was our mistake, the second goal we made a mistake, the third goal we made a mistake. If you come here and do that you are going to lose," said Neilson.
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