Scottish League Cup wrap: Celtic cruise into semis

31 October 2012 02:30

Celtic responded well to their 2-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday by routing St Johnstone 5-0 in the Scottish League Cup.

Kris Commons was the man who sparked Neil Lennon's side in Tuesday's quarter-final clash, bagging two goals by just after the half-hour mark, while a 38th-minute Gary Hooper strike made it 3-0 to Celtic at the half-time break.

It was more of the same after the interval, with Commons scoring a penalty on 57 minutes, and when Charlie Mulgrew scored just after the hour mark Celtic had wrapped up a comfortable victory to secure their spot in the semi-finals.

In the other quarter-final match on Tuesday, St Mirren defeated Aberdeen on penalties after scores were locked at 2-2 following extra time.

Sam Parkin opened the scoring after six minutes for St Mirren at Pittodrie, but Scott Vernon hit back for the home side to tie things up.

Kenny McLean restored the visitors' advantage on 69 minutes, but Josh Magennis scored in the 92nd minute to send the match into extra time.

With neither side able to break the deadlock it was left to penalties to decide the outcome, with the visitors holding their nerve better in the shootout.

Lennon out for revenge in League Cup

30 October 2012 03:29

Celtic manager Neil Lennon wants his side to take revenge out on St Johnstone when the sides meet in the Scottish League Cup on Tuesday.

The Saints beat the SPL champions last month in a league clash and Lennon is also demanding a response from his players after their defeat to Kilmarnock at the weekend.

"There will be a bit of revenge in the air," Lennon told reporters. "I'm sure the players will be very motivated. I'm looking for a really good reaction and I'm sure I'll get that.

"I'm not going to give my team away but it's fair to say it will be a pretty strong team.

"It's a quarter-final, off the back of a disappointing performance and result, and it's important we bounce back in the right way.

"They know how important the shirt is, they know how important it is to play for the club. They didn't do themselves justice on Saturday and it's not often I can cast that aspersion on the players. That's gone and we move on."

The Ulsterman also refused to use the heartbreaking defeat against Barcelona as any excuse for their shock defeat to Kilmarnock, and insisted the team are going to ensure complacency doesn't creep into their play again.

"That's an easy way out. Our priority is the league," he added.

"We had quite a proud home record for over a year, which is gone now, so we've got to start that all over again.

"Domestically, we want to put as much distance between ourselves and everyone else as possible, as quickly as possible. We had a bad day and I'll make sure that doesn't happen again."