Celtic beat Aberdeen to reach Scottish Cup final - reaction

1. Listen to Sportsound
2. Celtic will face Championship Hearts in 20 December final
3. Christie angles in stunning opener & Elyounoussi forces in second
4. Celtic one game from quadruple treble & have won 35 consecutive domestic cup ties
5. Rangers go nine points clear of Celtic with win at Kilmarnock

Day of joy for Rangers and Celtic

So what do we know after another long day of Scottish football?

Steven Gerrard's Rangers needed yet another James Tavernier penalty to edge out Kilmarnock and extend their lead over Celtic at the top of the Premiership to nine points.

That was this season. Going back to last season, Celtic end the day reaching their fourth consecutive Scottish Cup final by easing aside Aberdeen at Hampden.

Neil Lennon stressed he's not panicking about Rangers' lead in the league and why should he when they have two games in hand?

He is looking more towards making immediate history and being the first side to complete the domestic treble four seasons running when his side face Hearts in the final on 20 December.

Bye for now!

Celtic 'clear favourites'

Pat Bonner

Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

I am looking forward to the final. It was huge for Hearts to get to the final. After what they've been through, it is incredible for them. But, up against Celtic, it will be tough for them and Celtic should go into that as clear favourites

Too many Aberdeen spectators

Willie Miller

Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

For Celtic in the first half there was some sparkling football and I enjoyed watching it. I think unfortunately some of the Aberdeen players enjoyed watching it as well and didn't get close enough to make it difficult for Celtic

Edouard 'spooked us' - McInnes

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes thinks the return of Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard was crucial.

"The better team in first opening period won the game," he says. "We had some good moments to score first and that's important against a team like Celtic

"I thought Matty Kennedy started brilliantly on the left-hand side and put in a couple of good crosses. If Sam Cosgrove had been more match ready, he might have took them.

"I think Edouard's movement compared to last week spooked us a bit at the back, but although it is a fantastic strike by Ryan Christie we shouldn't have given him the encouragement to take that shot on.

"We went to a back four and looked better and I thought we were toe to toe with them in the second half. However, we never made it count."

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Lennon proud of history makers

Celtic manager Neil Lennon turns his attention to the possible quadruple domestic treble.

"The players are buzzing and it will be an amazing achievement if they can do it," he says.

"There's one game t go and it's going to be difficult - Hearts produced a great result and performance yesterday - but these players, their focus and desire to win is one of the best I've ever seen.

"They are achieving greatness as they go along and that sometimes gets overlooked at times. I am really proud of them."

Lennon delighted

Celtic manager Neil Lennon tells BBC Scotland: "We played brilliant in the first half - outstanding and it could have been more.

"That's just the follow on from Thursday night. It's difficult for them to maintain that.

"They looked tired in the second half and that's understandable, but it was a very comprehensive performance.

"It's another cup final and I can't ask any more of the players than that at the moment."

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Aberdeen not good enough - Miller

Willie Miller

Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

Unfortunately Aberdeen were good enough to take advantage when the opportunity was given to them by Celtic giving away slack possession. They didn't cause Celtic too many problems

Hearts no pushovers - Christie

Ryan Christie is keen to stress that another Scottish Cup final victory is not a foregone conclusion despite playing a team who were relegated and now play in the second tier.

The Celtic midfielder reveals he watched yesterday's semi-final in which Hearts defeated Hibs and says: "They beat a team who have been going really well in our league. It is an old cliche that it doesn't matter who you face in a final, it will be difficult."

Christie eyes 'amazing' bit of history

Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie, who scored his side's opening goal, says that talk of a quadruple treble is still banned in his team dressing-room.

"Buzzing to get through to another final, although it is strange for it to be delayed and played at this time of year.

"it's another chance when we get to that final to make history, but there are a lot of games to be played in Europe and domestically before then to concentrate on.

"No team has won it four years in a row and it would be amazing to win it again."

Talking of his goal, he says: "As soon as I cut inside, I was going to have a whack. Most of those this season have been flying over the bar, so it's nice to catch one and see it flying in."

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Mohamed Elyounoussi and Ryan Christie scored Celtic's goals, both set up by Tom Rogic

Wobble over for Celtic

Celtic's mini-crisis appears to be well and truly over.

They still didn't need to be at their best to brush aside the challenge of Aberdeen, but the win is enough to end a rare run of four games without a win for Neil Lennon's side.

They hinted that they were on the road to recovery with that 2-2 draw with Lille in the Europa League on Thursday and, despite looking fatigued at times, had more than enough to defeat a side many regard as the third best in Scotland.

FULL-TIME Celtic 2-0 Aberdeen

Two goals in five first-half minutes from Ryan Christie and Mohamed Elyounoussi are enough for Celtic to move into their 12th consecutive domestic cup final after a 35th successive victory.

Aberdeen flickered brightly in the opening minutes, but that was extinguished by that two-goal salvo and their 30-year wait to lift the Scottish Cup continues after a fairly lacklustre challenge.

Celtic will return to Hampden on 20 December looking to secure an unprecedented fourth Scottish Cup final victory - and against a Hearts side now in a division lower than they were when they lost there against the same opponents a year ago.

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The late charge by Aberdeen has failed to materialise and it all has an air of inevitability about it at Hampden.

The board signals five minutes of stoppage time, but it is only likely to prolong the agony for Aberdeen.

McGinn for Kennedy

Former Celtic winger Niall McGinn has become an almost forgotten man at Pittodrie, but he has a chance to bring his side back into the game as he replaces Northern Ireland colleague Matty Kennedy.

Ntcham on for Rogic

Another change for Celtic.

Tom Rogic rarely plays a full 90 minutes and the Australia midfielder is replaced with Olivier Ntcham.

A Ryan Hedges free-kick finds the head of Tommie Hoban, but the defender's effort flies over the Celtic crossbar.

Aberdeen have 10 minutes to avoid an eighth successive Hampden Park defeat by Celtic and it doesn't appear likely despite Celtic looking fatigued.

Ouch! Main on for Watkins

Aberdeen forward Marley Watkins is left prone after a challenge with Scott Brown.

The forward hobbles off on one leg, bleeding from his nose and on comes Curtis Main as his replacement.

Celtic 'looking tired'

Willie Miller

Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

Another chance for Aberdeen. It's beginning to grow, the pressure on Celtic. The big question is are Aberdeen good enough to take advantage of Celtic team that's looking tired?

A couple of half chances for Aberdeen.

First, Lewis Ferguson fires an 18-yard drive over the crossbar then Matty Kennedy is found on the edge of the six-yard box, but the winger's shot on the turn is blocked in front of goal by Jeremie Frimpong.