“We had to show it again today, and we showed it in abundance to get the job done!”- Anthony Ralston reflects on a dramatic Scottish Cup victory

Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston praised the character shown by the Celtic squad to fend off a St. Mirren comeback and reach a fourth consecutive Scottish Cup final. Celtic ran out 6-2 winners, but needed extra-time to see off Craig Mcleish’s side who came back from 2-0 down in stoppage time. Ralston scored his first Hampden goal in a Celtic shirt to put Martin O’Neill’s side 2-0 up just before half time. But Celtic needed to show a lot of resilience after dropping a two goal lead. “The mentality that we showed, that we’ve showed all throughout the years has gave us success. We had to show it again today and we showed it in abundance to get the job done.” He also mentioned that Celtic will be keen to win May’s cup final, having lost their last two cup finals. But focus now immediately shifts to the title race. “It’s in the back of our mind in terms of we’ve obviously got a title race to take care of in the next couple of weeks. Then we can have that at the end of the season and hopefully get more silverware.” Ralston also acknowledged that his place in the Scotland World Cup squad isn’t guaranteed, but a goal today as well as two more potential winners medals will certainly help his case for a call-up. “I don’t take anything for granted. It’s a crazy game. That’s why days like today, I need to keep taking my opportunities, I need to keep proving myself to hopefully get in that squad and that’s obviously my aim. As well as obviously being successful and winning trophies. I’ve got a lot that keeps me going and a lot that drives me everyday to be at my best. “Everybody’s a collective here. You know, we’re all hungry, we’ve all got the desire. We know it’s been a tough season. “I’ve got enough on my plate to try and win more. So I’m going to try and win more trophies at Celtic going into the end of the season and also trying to be successful internationally as well. So I’ve got a lot to keep me going.” He also admitted that prior to his goal, his first instinct wasn’t even to go for goal. “Initially, in my mind I was going to cross it. But then I thought I’ll just have a hit. Then it’s about having as clean a strike as possible across the goal and maybe not as close to the crossbar as I wanted. “I’ve not scored at Hampden for Celtic and I’ve said it all through the years. It was an incredible feeling.” Celtic will now face Dunfermline Athletic on the 23rd May in the final of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup. But they’ll first turn their attention to league action with five games remaining in this year’s title race. Celtic host Falkirk on Saturday.

Celtic 6-2 St. Mirren: Celtic extra time barrage sees off St. Mirren comeback

Celtic 6-2 St.Mirren (AET) Celtic overcame worries of a St. Mirren comeback with an extra-time punishment to exact Hampden revenge and reach the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup final. Maeda (1′) Ralston (45+3′) Iheanacho (96′, 100′) McCowan (98′) Nygren (102′)       Mandron (53′, 90+1′) Celtic wasted no time after kick-off as Daizen Maeda pounced on a poor kick from Ryan Mullen. A block from the forward trickled over the line to give Celtic at the lead in the opening minute. Martin O’Neill’s side continued to apply early pressure as Arne Engels attempt bounced off the post within the opening ten. It became an afternoon to forget for Ryan Mullen who filled in for the injured Shamal George. Mullen would pick up an injury of his own in the 15th minute meaning he was replaced by 17-year-old Grant Tamosevicius who made his senior debut. The teenager was called into action early on as his kick out was intercepted by Tounekti who played through Benjamin Nygren, but the effort was straight into the hands of the keeper. Moments later, he would deny Maeda a brace with a great stop from inside the area. St. Mirren’s first shot of the afternoon came from Mikael Mandron just before the half hour mark, but his effort from outside the area was blocked. Liam Donnelly would then force Viljami Sinisalo into a fantastic save from the corner. St. Mirren would then start to grow into the game and nearly recreated Celtic’s goal when Killian Phillips’ block of Sinisalo’s kick out caused a scare. Luckily for Celtic, if the ball had crossed the line, it was ruled that it came off Phillips’ arm. Moments later, Arne Engels entered the book for a challenge on Jacob Devaney. Celtic’s first effort since Engels struck the post would strike the bar as Tamosevicius could only watch on as Yang headed goal-wards from a Kieran Tierney cross. The drama of goalkeeper kick outs continued as Sinisalo’s short pass was intercepted by Mandron inside the box. Mandron laid the ball off to Phillips whose close range effort was wide off the post. Anthony Ralston put Celtic two goals to the good with the last kick of the half as Yang’s back heel was left perfectly for the fullback whose shot came off the underside of the bar. Mandron then pulled one back for St. Mirren shortly after halftime as he headed in from a Declan John cross. Celtic looked to respond fast through Yang, but his goal bound effort was blocked by Jonah Ayunga for a corner. Celtic would then recycle play as Tamosevicius collected the ball in a congested penalty area. Allan Campbell entered the book moments after for a challenge on Ralston. A triple-substitution 15 minutes from time would allow St. Mirren captain Mark O’Hara to move back into his natural position in the middle of the park. He’d then instantly have an attempt at goal, but his header from a deep free-kick was just over the bar. St. Mirren had a penalty appeal waved five minutes from time when Jayden Richardson went down in the box following contact from Marcelo Saracchi. Sinisalo would then produce an excellent double save to keep Celtic’s lead in the closing stages. The lead didn’t last long however as Mandron latched onto a Jake Young through ball and beat Sinisalo low into the bottom corner to equalise in stoppage time. Luke McCowan came close to winning it at the death, but his half volley from outside the box was just over. The first chance of extra-time fell to Mandron, looking for a hat-trick. The forward managed to meet Declan John’s cross once more, but the shot was blocked by substitute Dane Murray. Celtic then looked to James Forrest to counter from a corner, but was shut down by Mark O’Hara who was booked for his foul. Iheanacho restored Celtic’s lead in the 96th minute, heading in from a James Forrest cross. McCowan put Celtic two up immediately after with a great finish. The fourth then became the fifth when Ihenancho cooly finished past Tamosevicius. The fifth became the sixth when Nygren gave Celtic their fourth goal in six minutes. Celtic didn’t look to let St. Mirren off the hook in the second half of extra-time as Tamosevicius produced saves from Forrest and Iheanancho before Austin Trust fired high and wide from close range. The final chance of the match fell to Iheanacho, but his effort went out for a throw in. The whistle sounded shortly after as Celtic reached their fourth consecutive Scottish Cup final. Celtic will return to Barclays Hampden to face Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline in the final of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup on the 23rd May. This ensures a re-run of the 2007 cup final, where Lennon was the Celtic captain in a 1-0 win. Celtic: Sinisalo, Ralston, Arthur (Murray 91′), Trusty, Tierney (Saracchi 82′), McGregor (Oxlade-Chamberlin 74′), Engels (McCowan 74′), Nygren, Yang (Iheanacho 82′), Maeda, Tounekti (Forrest 60′) St. Mirren: Mullen (Tamosevicius 16′), Donnelly (McMenamin 82′), Gogic, Freckelton, O’Hara, Devaney, Campbell (Richardson 74′), Phillips (Idowu 74′), John (Tanser 105′), Mandron, Ayunga (Young 74′)

Are former Premier League Champions Leicester set for League One Football?

Leicester City – the former Premier League Champions sit 23rd in the EFL Championship as a shock relegation looks set for the Foxes. The Foxes’ were once up there winning the Premier League title back in 2016 being one of the greatest underdog stories out there as the Foxes secured Champions League football to the King Power Stadium. Leicester were grouped with Club Brugge, FC Porto and FC Copenhagen which saw Leicester progress with four wins, a goalless draw in Denmark and a 5-0 battering at Porto. They were drawn with Sevilla which they lost the first leg but came back to win in the home leg to continue. Their Champions League spell came to an end at the hands of Atletico Madrid, drawing 1-1 at home but losing out 1-0 in the Spanish capital courtesy of a Griezmann first half goal. They would go on and return to the European stage in 2021 being grouped in the Europa League with Spartak Moscow, Leiga Warsaw and Napoli which saw the Foxes demoted to the Conference League where they’d meet Randers winning 7-2 on aggregate. They then went on to face Rennes which they edged out 3-2 winners on aggregate which landed them a tie with PSV Eindhoven which again saw them progress. It all came to an end in the following tie as AS Roma scraped past Leicester to knock out the Premier League side. It all came to a crashing end in 2023 as the Foxes saw their nine year spell in Europe’s top league come to an end as Leicester were relegated to the Championship following a rather disappointing season in the Premier League. This year has been very poor by the Foxes’ as they sit second bottom, just ahead of Sheffield Wednesday who sit on -3 points following a season full of point deductions and off the pitch chaos but for Leicester, a team who you’d expect to be in with a chance of the title look like they’re set for League One football. Leicester who sit 23rd have only won 11 times this season, most recently a 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth yesterday as relegation fears stepped up a level as they sit eight points from safety with a defeat to Hull on Tuesday meaning they will be playing in England’s third division next season. The defeat at Portsmouth didn’t go down well at all with the fans which saw heated conflict between fans at full-time and Oliver Skipp seen shouting abuse towards the fellow supporters as well as supporters at full-time chanting “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” as a shock relegation looks to be on the cards. It’s safe to say, it’s a sad sight in England as one of the regular Premier League sides are being set for a relegation to League One following many years of success.  

Chelsea 0-1 Man Utd: visitors take leap towards Champions League

Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United Cunha (43′) Matheus Cunha’s clinical first-half strike pushed a rejuvenated Manchester United side onto the cusp of Champions League football. In an edgy affair at Stamford Bridge, the pivotal touch came two minutes before the halftime break. Bruno Fernandes marauded down the right flank, delivering a low cross from the byline for Cunha to sweep home in the penalty box. The right-footed effort sailed past Robert Sanchez and into the top corner, giving the hosts another setback in what has been a challenging period on the domestic front. Chelsea were frustrated by the woodwork, seeing three different efforts crash off the crossbar. The best opportunity fell to Wesley Fofana in the second period, who latched onto Pedro Neto’s dangerous inswinging corner. But from close range, the Frenchman’s header could only find the upright. Liam Rosenior’s side are now four matches without scoring in the Premier League, and back-to-back home defeats against the Manchester clubs leave them four points outside the Champions League spots. Carrick counted on experience, with the likes of Fernandes instrumental in the narrow victory. After bouncing back from Monday’s defeat to Leeds, the Red Devils sit comfortably in 3rd place with five matches to go. Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto (Acheampong 81′) Fofana (Chalobah 81′) Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernández (Lavia 88′) Palmer, Neto, Estavao (Garnacho 16′) Delap Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Mazraoui, Heaven, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbuemo (Zirkzee 87′) Fernandes, Cunha (Mount 81′) Sesko (Diallo 80′)  

Hearts Linked with Tom Renaud as Summer Plans Take Shape

Heart of Midlothian have been linked with a move for French midfielder Tom Renaud, with reports suggesting the club are exploring a deal ahead of the summer window. The 25-year-old, currently playing for FC Versailles in France’s third tier, is said to be on Hearts’ radar as they look to strengthen their squad. Renaud primarily operates as a defensive midfielder but is also capable of playing in central defence. That flexibility appears to fit well with Hearts’ current recruitment approach, which has focused on players who can cover multiple roles and adapt to different systems. With squad depth becoming more important across a long season, this type of signing could prove useful. In terms of performance, Renaud has been a consistent presence for Versailles. During the current campaign, he has featured regularly in the starting lineup. Contributing both defensively and in build-up play. While he is not known for high goal or assist numbers, his strengths lie in positioning, and maintaining possession. Reports from the French league highlight his solid passing accuracy and ability to break up opposition attacks, key traits for a holding midfielder. Hearts have increasingly looked beyond the UK market in recent transfer windows, targeting players in European leagues who may offer more value and potential for development. Renaud fits that profile. At 25, he is entering his peak years and could offer both immediate impact and room for growth within the squad. At this stage, the move remains a rumour rather than a confirmed transfer. However, the link does align with the club’s recent recruitment pattern and long-term planning. If discussions progress, Renaud could become one of the first additions of the summer as Hearts aim to build a squad capable of competing strongly in domestic competitions and pushing for consistency at the top end of the table.