Pundit Outlines What Will “Worry” Brendan Rodgers After Semi-final

Celtic just about booked their place in next month’s Scottish Cup final on Saturday courtesy of an eventual victory over Aberdeen on penalty kicks.

It was a stressful afternoon for supporters who were hoping for a relatively easy watch in the spring Hampden sunshine.

Instead, they got the complete opposite as the Hoops went a goal down two minutes in. Strikes from Nicolas Kuhn and James Forrest then turned the Game on its head but Ester Sokler levelled at the end of the 90.

Midway through extra-time, Matt O’Riley put the Celts ahead once more but in the 119th minute, Angus MacDonald headed home a goal that was nearly identical to Sokler’s.

The Hoops’ defending for each of the Dons’ late levellers was hugely suspect and, according to Richard Foster, will worry manager Brendan Rodgers.

He said: [BBC Scottish Football Podcast] “They didn’t defend their box well and normally that’s something Celtic do very well. Teams struggle to get touches in the box against Celtic but Aberdeen seemed to do it at will.

“The goals were really poor defensively and that would be a worry for Brendan Rodgers.

“It would be worrying how many first contacts Aberdeen got in the Celtic box from crosses.

“If you’re looking at a team to go and play against Celtic now, you think to yourself ‘cross the ball in the box’. If you get first contact then you have an opportunity to go and score a goal.”

Foster’s last few words are telling given his role. Currently head of coaching at Motherwell, the 38-year-old indicates what opposing teams might do to Celtic between now and the end of the season.

It will be a nervy end to the campaign for all involved with the club with two trophies on the line.