If only everything in life was as reliable as Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The defender finally got his hands on a Scottish Cup winners medal on Saturday, after three years of solid graft no-one in the Celtic squad deserved it more than the former Spurs defender.
Due to a variety of injuries this season it is doubtful if Carter-Vickers has ever been at 100% match fitness but since returning to the side away to Livingston at the end of March there has been an extra assurance to the way Celtic have defended.
An ‘erratic’ display by Bobby Madden in his farewell performance at the 2022 Scottish Cup semi-final denied Celtic the chance of a treble, after last season’s semi-final win over Micky Beale’s side it was decided that CCV had ran his race, the next day he underwent knee surgery.
Since returning to the Celtic defence for the run-in to the season there has been greater expectancy than ever on his shoulders, the summer signings have diplomatically been eased aside with Liam Scales the unlikely replacement for Carl Starfelt.
Over the course of the last three seasons, two as a permanent signing Carter-Vickers has encountered everything that the Scottish game has to throw up and is without question the best defender in the country.
When his name is on the team sheet there is a degree of confidence among supporters, in one first half incident he put himself on the line to toe poke the ball away from Cyriel Dessers eight yards from goal. The Ibrox striker was the aggressor, he went off at half-time and left Hampden with his foot in a brace, plus a losers medal.
What an angle 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/WM3nVXcfCm
— andy (@AJDT1989) May 27, 2024
With the strains of clinching the SPFL taking its toll on many of his team-mates Carter-Vickers stood tall in the centre of the Celtic defence. He organised and delivered, his anticipation often makes situations appear much easier.
From the moment Abdallah Sima had his ‘goal’ disallowed for a push on Joe Hart Celtic were on the back foot, at times it looked inevitable that a goal would be lost, few would have backed Brendan Rodgers’ side to bounce back.
Celtic’s midfield was struggling to get on the front foot but behind them Carter-Vickers wasn’t conceding a thing, he did need another medal to complete his collection.
Extra-time looked inevitable when Callum McGregor played the ball to Paulo Bernardo inside the centre circle. Nicky Raskin was brushed aside like a lower league opponent, the on loan Benfica midfielder started to motor and possibilities started to open up.
It provided Carter-Vickers with a little respite, seconds later he was flat out on the turf looking up to the sky after Adam Idah had pounced on Jack Butland parrying a shot to find the net and send half of Hampden into delirium.
Celtic were in touching distance of the Scottish Cup but lengthy stoppage time was inevitable, Steven McLean indicated that there was eight more to go with Nick Walsh extending that to 10.
There was no signs of desperation from the Celtic defence, they kept a reasonably high line with Joe Hart sweeping well behind them.
With the ball deep inside their opponents half the final whistle blew, CCV had his medal with the real celebrations about to kick-off.
CLICK HERE for two faced Keevins makes remarkable Rodgers u-turn
CLICK HERE for Santa Ponsa celebrates Celtic’s victory in the Glasgow Derby.
CLICK HERE for SPFL Premiership table.
