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Rangers boss Danny Rohl insists it’s not his job to stick the boot into Hampden ref Nick Walsh. But there were plenty of Gers fans happy to call the Hotline and let rip at the whistler’s display in the Premier Sports Cup semi showdown. Gers were edged out 3-1 by Celtic after extra time after seeing Thelo Aasgaard sent off - but the seething Ibrox support reckon their bitter rivals should have finished with 10 men too. Auston Trusty’s flick out at the face of Jack Butland earned only a yellow, leaving Chris Lowe, Yoker to rant: “Yet another anti-Rangers masterclass from Nick Walsh. No doubt we will get another YouTube apology from our head of referees. “John Brown called it spot on last season … Scottish football stinks.” George McLeish added: “Nick Walsh’s display was a disgrace. “A Celtic player puts his studs into Butland's face and only gets booked. Another player steps on a Rangers player’s stomach and only gets a yellow. “Then another Celtic player who has already been booked, deliberately handballs in the penalty box and nothing happens to him. “There is so much bias against teams in the SPFL when they play against this Parkhead lot. “St Mirren are wasting their time turning up for the final because the SFA will make sure they don’t win.” Stuart McLeod raged: “Can you imagine the uproar if John Souttar had left his studs in on Kasper Schmeichel's head and only received a yellow? “We would be looking at another referee strike! “Arne Engels claimed Thelo Aasgaard’s challenge was the worst he had ever seen. “It was a complete accident with his eyes completely on the ball but I’ll agree, it was reckless and the red was justified. “However, Arne must have had his eyes closed when his team mate went in late and maliciously on the Gers keeper.” Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill said: “Perhaps Dermot Desmond should bring in a couple of referees from the SFA as part of Celtic’s backroom team for the new manager. That would ensure that the new incumbent would be a top notch appointment.” Alfie Mullin, London said: “The next time Rangers are drawn against Celtic in a cup game, the powers that be should just automatically award Celtic the win. “That would remove any pretence of it being a fair game. After all, in the last few years the officials seem to have gone out of their way to help Celtic to victory. “In the League Cup final in 2019, Celtic won courtesy of a goal that was blatantly offside. “Last year, Celtic won the trophy on penalties after Rangers were denied a penalty in the dying embers of normal time. The head of the referees admitted Rangers should have been awarded a penalty. “On Sunday, Rangers had Aasgaard sent off, which was a correct decision. “However, Celtic should have had up to three players sent off! Trusty should have been sent off for kicking Butland in the head. Tony Ralston should have been sent off when he conceded the penalty as he was already on a yellow card. “And Daizen Maeda should have been sent off for persistent fouling. “It seems it is a waste of time playing these games as Celtic's pet officials will go out of their way to hand them victory." But that all sounded like sour grapes to the celebrating Celts support. Jim McClean, Isle of Bute , said: “Here we go again, more Rangers complaints to the SFA after a defeat to Celtic. “They have nothing to complain about as every other decision went with them. “If it was not for Butland, the game should have been over before the incident with Trusty. “Grow a pair Rangers and accept defeat graciously.” Arrin Geddes, Irvine, added: “The better team made it through to the League Cup final and the raging Rangers fans can greet all they want. “Trusty’s ‘outrageous’ assault was no more than a yellow and the rules seemed to change to award the Rangers the softest of penalties to get them back into a game they were never winning.” Jerry Fanning, East Kilbride, asked: “What about James Tavernier claiming after the game that Djeidi Gassama should have been more streetwise and gone down in the box after being tackled by Trusty? “That sounds like this sore serial loser is saying his team-mate should cheat. Surely that’s an issue the SFA should be looking at?” John Scott, Grassmoor, said: “So at long last we were treated to an Old Firm game that lived up to all the hype. “Contentious decisions for and against both sides added to the drama. "Only Auston Trusty can explain why he thought Jack Butland’s head looked like a football, nor can anyone rationally explain why he didn’t get a red card. “In amongst all this stepped in James Forrest for his cameo. Twisting, turning and running by players like he was Leo Messi. A reminder of the old days before balls over the top and tearing down the flanks to fire in aimless crosses. Thank you James.” Martin O’Neill wound back the years to inspire Celtic to victory. And Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “I had my reservations about O’Neill being brought back and with him being 73 but after monitoring his body language on the touch line on Sunday, I’ve changed my mind! “He doesn’t act or look his age. And even after only two games in charge, he’s brought the feel-good factor back to the club. He must at the very least lead Celtic out in the final. Win that then Dermot should give him the job on a permanent basis.” But Alan Milligan reckons Gers recruitment chief Kevin Thelwell should be worried about his future, saying: “Rangers need to get rid of this imposter and his son before they can do more damage. “All his summer signings have been a disaster. Gassama did look promising but he has now morphed into Rabbi Matondo. Thelwell needs to go immediately.” Adam Peters, Bathgate, said: “Forget about the dodgy officials who blighted our game, that result was down to Kevin Thelwell’s summer recruitment. “You could give that man £100million to spend in January and it wouldn’t worry Celtic. The £8m to his former club for Youssef Chermiti should be investigated.”
