O'Neill calls Celtic defeat to Rangers a wake-up call

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill described his team's 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarterfinal defeat to Rangers as a "wake-up call," admitting his side were "second best" throughout the match at Ibrox. The loss, which ended Celtic's domestic unbeaten run stretching back to March, saw Rangers secure a place in the semifinals against Aberdeen with goals from captain Dan Neil and forward Kevin Kelsy. O'Neill did not attempt to disguise the scale of the setback, conceding the scoreline was a fair reflection of the balance of play. "We were well beaten in the end," he said. "I thought the first half we didn't capitalise, we had a couple of really decent chances when we'd broken their press. But on the day, just second best." The Celtic manager attributed the defeat not to a tactical surprise but to his team's own shortcomings. He highlighted misplaced passes and poor decision-making in possession as key factors. "I think, we did misplace a lot of passes today when we were comfortable and choosing the wrong option when we were on the counterattack," O'Neill stated. He was particularly frustrated by the lack of attacking opportunities created, a contrast to recent domestic performances.