WHENEVER you are previewing a cup semi-final or final, you will always relate to games you were involved with as a player or manager.

When it comes to the Scottish League Cup, the game against Hibs that always sticks out was for the wrong reasons.

It was the final in the 72/73 season when Celtic found themselves up against what was a very good Hibs team managed by Eddie Turnbull. 

Read more: Brendan Rodgers: Tactically and technically Celtic are good enough - now they just need the nerve

Earlier in the year we’d won 6-1 at Hampden in the Scottish Cup final, wee Dixie Deans hitting a hat-trick.

But I was part of the Celtic side in December that year when the day belonged to Hibs, beating us 2-1 with goals from Pat Stanton – who would eventually play for Celtic – and Jim O’Rourke. 

It was never nice to play in a final and lose, but as a Celtic player, there was always that possibility because we played in so many finals. 

In 1974, Celtic beat Hibs 6-3 in the League Cup final and again, Dixie Deans was the star turn with yet another hat-trick. But there was no winners medal for me. I had already moved to Chelsea. Maybe they did better without me!