Celtic

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Captaining Celtic in a memorable Old Firm cup victory is "definitely one of the proudest moments" of Liam Scales' career.

The defender was handed the armband in the absence of Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney, forming part of a resolute back four.

Martin O'Neill's backline had to be on point at Ibrox, where Rangers dominated the majority of the 120 minutes.

But a goalless tie ended in glory for Celtic, who progressed to the Scottish Cup semis to face St Mirren after coming out on top on penalties.

"It's right up there," Scales said. "It was definitely one of the proudest moments. But again, it's a quarter-final, we still need to go on and win the semi and the final for it to be worthwhile."

Asked when he found out he would captain the team, Scales added: "Just before the game, I suppose. It wasn't really said, I just realised it coming out just before the warm-up.

"I think we do have a team full of leaders. It might not be the most vocal team, but the way the players play and compose themselves on the pitch, we have a lot of leaders.

"It was a difficult game, probably not the best game. We had to defend, we defended, and sometimes it's like that there."

Following their success at Ibrox, which came before an unpleasant pitch invasion, Celtic have a week off after a gruelling period.

They host Motherwell on Saturday, knowing a win would narrow Hearts' five-point lead in the Scottish Premiership before the Jambos face Kilmarnock later in the day.

"There were four away games in 10 days," Scales said. "We go to Ibrox twice and have some of the European games in there as well.

"I just think that the character is brilliant. We know it's there. We know the quality, we haven't got to the levels as consistently as we would like, but the character has got us through games.

"Scoring last-minute goals and keeping a clean sheet on Sunday, it's given us good momentum now to kick on."

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Sturm Graz midfielder Filip Rozga is a Celtic transfer target as the Scottish champions have reignited their interest in the 19-year-old Poland international. (Record), external

Celtic are among the clubs who are showing interest in 23-year-old Cologne defensive midfielder Eric Martel, who is out of contract this summer. (TeamTalk), external

West Ham striker Callum Wilson has verbally agreed terms on a new one-year contract despite Celtic's interest in the 34-year-old Englishman. (Sky Sports), external

Former Celtic player Charlie Mulgrew fears captain Callum McGregor may miss a significant part of the Scottish Premiership title run-in. (The Breakdown podcast via YouTube), external

Rangers and Celtic have been warned by Greater Glasgow Division Chief Superintendent Emma Croft that large-scale away allocations for derby matches are "not workable" after the ugly scenes that followed Sunday's Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox. (Herald - subscription required), external

It could take more than two weeks before the Scottish FA concludes its investigation into the post-match events that marred Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox as spectators entered the pitch. (Record), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Former Scotland goalkeeper Cammy Bell says Viljami Sinisalo has cemented his place as Celtic's number one goalkeeper after Sunday's Scottish Cup penalty shootout victory over rivals Rangers.

The Finnish shot-stopper replaced Kasper Schmeichel last month after Celtic's 2-1 defeat at Hibs.

Sinisalo made two saves and commanded his box expertly as Celtic resisted Rangers pressure through the 120 minutes.

James Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama then missed penalties in the shootout as Celtic progressed to the semi-finals.

"I absolutely think he'll play to the end of season now and I think he's what Celtic are looking at as a future goalkeeper," Bell said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"There's going to be big pressure games, but that's what he's going to face if he wants to be a Celtic number one.

"I think he's shown what he can do. He had a big save midweek in Aberdeen and then yesterday, I genuinely thought he was excellent.

"A lot of people look and think he didn't have much to do, but he had a lot of high balls into the box and a lot of balls over the top.

"I think there was a Benjamin Arthur ball where it came loose and he had to be alert, cleared the danger.

"I just felt as if he was one of Celtic's best performers because he was so solid. So yeah, he's got to play to the end of the season."

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The head of a Scottish football fan group has said he was "angry" after Celtic and Rangers fans both charged on the Ibrox pitch at the end of Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Celtic won on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, after which both sets of supporters spilled out from the stands.

Police described the scenes as "shameful" and made a number of arrests.

Stuart Murphy, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Fans Association, described the situation as a "debacle" and says it is not fair on the majority of match-going fans.

"I'm angry this morning," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"Actually, I'm angry on behalf of the majority of all decent fans, who will all feel tarnished and stained by that debacle yesterday which is the only way to describe it.

"I was at the Old Firm cup final 45 years ago and 45 years on, we've not moved on at all, so this morning is not a good day for the game in general."

Both sets of supporters also clashed on the pitch after the 1980 Scottish Cup final, after which there were 200 arrests and alcohol was banned from sports grounds in Scotland. There are still no alcohol sales at football stadiums.

We asked you Celtic fans for your views on the penalty shoot-out win over Rangers in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Patrick: The result is all that matters in these games. Let's hope we build momentum from here. Shameful scenes at the end, so damaging to the game, that's not the sort of drama that's needed.

Larry: Celtic are still on course for the league and cup double. They defeated Rangers without conceding a goal. The defence is much stronger with Sinisalo, Auston Trusty, Ben Arthur and Kieran Tierney. This is the key to winning the league: it's goals conceded and games lost which have cost Celtic this season. In terms of goals scored, there is relative parity with other championship contenders.

Den: The return of Tierney and Callum McGregor will bolster Celtic in the final strait. Benjamin Nygren is not a midfielder - he's a 'ghost' goalscorer who deserves a roaming commission. If the league and cup double is achieved, it will be hard fought and well deserved.

Stephen: Rangers deserved the win today but somehow Celtic held firm and were flawless with their penalties. Hopefully going through gives the players the confidence to kick on in the league. It's not been pretty this season but we're hanging in there and with only one game a week going forward I'm hopeful performances will improve.

Hugh: In terms of quality this must go down as one of the poorest Old Firm games ever. They could have played until next Sunday without scoring a goal between them.

We defended stoutly and never looked like losing a goal. However, our midfield were weak, lacked creativity and provided no service to our forwards who were posted missing for most of the game.

Happy we came through in the end but we have a huge job ahead rebuilding this squad - currently they have very little to offer! Our board also have a question to answer regarding why we have regressed so rapidly over the last 18 months?

Tom: Four away games in ten days, six certain starters missing - let's not delude ourselves there are players in the team at the moment that wouldn't make the bench.

The board have let themselves down badly, but only one person could have eked results in the last four away games. He is the one getting every ounce of fighting from this Celtic team and I believe it will be the best league and cup double ever. Take a bow, Martin O'Neill.

Celtic beat Rangers on penalties to edge into the Scottish Cup semi-finals as a combustible Old Firm derby concluded in ugly scenes with fans from both sides swarming the pitch at Ibrox.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill: "Well, obviously delighted that we're still in the competition. It was a tough afternoon, I knew it would be, of course - Ibrox away from home for the second time in a week but our fourth game in 10 days. I knew that we'd get tired during the course of proceedings.

"The players showed phenomenal courage and great, great determination and a rear guard action, which is really commendable. Everyone to a man did more than their jobs. They were really terrific.

"There's things that we feel that naturally we're far from the finished article. Four away fixtures, two at Ibrox, one in Stuttgart and Aberdeen, which was not an easy game for us either. So, great credit to the team.

"It shouldn't do us any harm. It should give you a great boost. The players, they've got a bit of confidence about themselves. It should keep confidence high. Does it change things for the rest of the league? I'm not sure."

Lee Naylor backs former club Celtic to snatch the Scottish Premiership title this season. (Glasgow Times), external

Celtic top scorer Benjamin Nygren feels there is enough time for the defending champions to catch league leaders Hearts in the title race. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Ex-Scotland winger Pat Nevin believes substitutions may hold the key to Sunday's Scottish Cup meeting of Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox and praises visiting manager Martin O'Neill for the changes he made in last weekend's 2-2 Premiership draw at the same venue. (Sunday Mail), external

Former Scotland forward Kevin Gallacher says it may be difficult for Kieran Tierney to watch old club Arsenal win the Premier League if his season at Celtic ends in disappointment. (Record), external

Sunday's Scottish gossip