Celtic 3-1 Rangers (AET) - Martin O'Neill wins generation game on Old Firm return as veteran boss raises possibility of extending stay after League Cup semi-final triumph

Presumably the last of the Celtic supporters who sought refuge under their beds on Tuesday morning have now come out.

Twenty years after Martin O’Neill last led the side, there was an understandable sense of trepidation that a legacy could be scuffed. So much for that.

Having conjured up Celtic’s best performance of the season via an introductory chat before the midweek win over Falkirk, this seismic victory over Rangers puts him back in the sedan chair.

Brendan Rodgers, who resigned under a cloud, is Celtic’s most decorated living manager. O’Neill is the most revered.

What a moment this was for the 73-year-old. His side were superior to Rangers in the first half. Not only were they a goal up through Johnny Kenny, they enjoyed a numerical advantage following Thelo Aasgaard’s red card.

Rangers deserve no little credit for the way they rallied thereafter. They stayed in the game then asked some questions of their own. When James Tavernier converted a late penalty to take the game to extra time, you wondered if Danny Rohl might just somehow win this generation game.

Perhaps, a week ago, a Celtic side which had looked so unsure of themselves would have gone into their shells.

But with O’Neill kicking every ball like he used to, they prevailed by showing the kind of heart that’s been so often conspicuous by its absence this season.

From the moment Callum McGregor struck a powerful shot through Jack Butland’s arms, the holders were never losing this.

Long before Callum Osmand netted his first for the club to settle the issue, a new generation of Celtic supporters were scattering rose petals in the path of the interim manager. Who says you should never go back?

With a Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren to come next month, you would not bet against this temporary arrangement being extended.

This was a painful day for Rangers’ young head coach. His side started sluggishly and were dealt a wounding blow by Aasgaard’s lunge.

You had to admire how they dusted themselves down after the break to make a fist of things. In a game of thin margins, Butland’s aberration was extremely costly. Having bounced back once, the 10 men were unable to rouse themselves for a second time.

From the get go, it was fast and frantic. While there was a nervousness to Rangers early on, Celtic looked more assured. Nasser Djiga kicking fresh air with his first involvement didn’t help Rohl’s men settle.

O’Neill stayed in the technical area for the first eight minutes. The point when Daizen Maeda was penalised for a dubious foul on Youssef Chermiti was his cue to take his customary place.

He’d have been frustrated at his side’s inability to take one of the early half-chances they created. Maeda ought to have done better than fire straight at Jack Butland.

Maeda typified Celtic in the first half. Even by his standards, his energy was extraordinary.

He seemed to be everywhere. Unfortunately for Celtic, that also included being marginally offside as they took a free-kick before Djiga smashed the ball off Nico Raskin with Butland helpless as the ball went into his net. VAR saved Rangers on that occasion, but they didn’t heed the warning.

Although Chermiti twice went close, Celtic controlled the early stages and edged in front on 25 minutes.

It was a poor concession from Rohl’s point of view. Arne Engels’ corner was whipped with pace to the near post. Kenny had four opponents for company yet showed more appetite than any of them to win the ball. A flashing header gave Butland no chance.

It might quickly have got better for O’Neill’s side, but Kenny fired straight at the keeper. To the Irishman’s chagrin, Benjamin Nygren then took the ball off his toe.

For all their growing pressure, Celtic were fortunate not to be pegged back when Danilo found Nico Raskin with a cute reverse pass. Kasper Schmeichel did well to spread himself.

Rangers’ task was made markedly more difficult seven minutes from the break. Aasgaard seemed in control of the ball until a heavy touch made Anthony Ralston favourite to take it from him.

The Norwegian’s instincts took over. His challenge looked accidental, but it was high, catching his opponent in the midriff. It was a red card all day long.

Auston Trusty could consider himself fortunate not to follow him. The American hung out a leg which caught Butland on the face. It was unnecessary. A yellow card was the least he deserved.

With Danilo sacrificed at the break, the 10 men of Rangers made a real go of it. They found energy from somewhere yet couldn’t fashion the one thing they needed — chances.

As Celtic looked for the killer second, Kenny got his feet in a tangle as Maeda waited for a tap-in. Engels fired a curler just wide. Butland pulled off a fine double-stop to deny Nygren then Ralston.

James Forrest beat the Rangers keeper only for his stride to thud the underside of the bar.

With five players on a booking, maintaining discipline was as much a priority for Celtic as a second goal.

Rangers needed something to fall out of the sky for them. It appeared to have landed when Djeidi Gassama latched onto a ball over the top. Liam Scales did extraordinarily well to a make up the ground and slide in.

To their credit, Rohl’s men stuck at it and would soon have their reward. Gassama’s mazy run across the box preceded a goal-bound strike. Ralston’s arm was tucked in, but it did strike him on the elbow. Referee Nick Walsh pointed to the spot. Tavernier blasted the ball into the left corner.

Another big save from Butland prevented Osmand from being an instant hero after being introduced from the bench. Reo Hatate’s rising strike in injury time ensured we were going the distance.

Butland had a fine 90 minutes, but he won’t look back on his start to extra-time with any pride.

Played in by Trusty, McGregor caught the ball well although his shot from 20 yards looked too central to be troubling the keeper. Butland seemed to dive beyond it. McGregor wheeled away to celebrate.

The keeper did well to turn Osmand’s header round the post before Schmeichel stood up to thwart Gassama.

It took four minutes of the second period of extra time for Celtic to settle the issue.

Kieran Tierney’s cross had pace and accuracy. It asked a lot of Osmand, but he was up to the task, sliding in between two defenders to claim his first Celtic goal.

New heroes born on a day when an old one returned.