Celtic Fans Gain Momentum After Callum Mcgregor Ibrox Team Talk Before Cup Tie
Sunday at 3: 00 p. m. ET — Celtic players and the thousands of travelling supporters stand to gain belief and momentum after captain callum mcgregor said his dressing-room team talk and the squad’s resilience helped them claw back to a 2-2 draw at Ibrox.
Callum Mcgregor’s Message Lifts Celtic Supporters Ahead of Scottish Cup Visit
More than a couple of thousand Celtic supporters celebrated the late equaliser on Sunday, and that backing is set to swell: competition rules mean around 7, 500 Celtic fans will travel to the Broomloan stand for next Sunday’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final tie at Ibrox. callum mcgregor framed that fan presence and the team’s mentality as practical advantages that can shift momentum heading into the cup match.
Ibrox Draw After Youssef Chermiti Double and Reo Hatate Equaliser
The immediate on-field turnaround began after Rangers swept into a two-goal lead through a double from 21-year-old Portuguese striker Youssef Chermiti, leaving Martin O’Neill’s side trailing at the break. Kieran Tierney then halved the deficit with a 56th-minute header, and substitute Reo Hatate bundled home a dramatic last-gasp leveller after Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland had initially saved the spot-kick and a rebound shot, producing the 2-2 final score.
Keith Hackett Says SFA Enquiry Could Follow John Beaton Penalty Decision
While much of the post-match attention centered on the penalty Callum McGregor’s side converted, ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett says there will be an enquiry within the Scottish FA over a separate spot-kick that was missed by referee John Beaton. Hackett pointed to an incident in which Dujon Sterling appeared to grab Sebastian Tounekti’s shirt and bundle him over; he says Willie Collum will be looking into that missed call.
McGregor described the team’s recent run of late goals — including decisive strikes in matches against Dundee, Livingston and Kilmarnock — as evidence of character, saying the squad has shown resilience over the last four or five weeks and that the attitude demonstrates they are still in contention for honors despite pressure from league leaders Hearts and Rangers’ position in the table.
With nine fixtures remaining, the context in the dressing room matters: McGregor urged the group to “stand together and try to fight against” outside doubts and labelled the group’s approach “almost like a siege mentality. ” He also tied that mentality directly to upcoming matches, noting the need to channel that desire across the run-in and into the cup tie at Ibrox.
Still, the match result had competitive consequences: the draw left Rangers trailing the Edinburgh leaders by six points and two points ahead of Celtic, and Celtic retain a game in hand that is away to Aberdeen on Wednesday night. McGregor said the team hopes the point “nudges us closer” as they push through the remaining fixtures.
If the Scottish FA opens a formal enquiry and Willie Collum issues a ruling, any disciplinary outcome or review of the missed shirt-pull could be announced before Celtic’s Aberdeen game on Wednesday night; more details expected Wednesday at 7: 00 p. m. ET.
