Liam Scales left Ibrox with one of the biggest results of his Celtic career, and former Hoops defender Greg Taylor believes the moment summed up the Irishman’s journey in football.
Celtic came through a tense Scottish Cup tie against Rangers on penalties after 120 minutes without a goal. It was an afternoon built on defending and concentration. The Hoops spent long spells under pressure but refused to give anything away in their own box.
Scales played a huge part in that. Normally a centre-back, he started the game at left-back and also wore the captain’s armband with Callum McGregor missing through injury. The change in role did not affect his performance. He dealt with crosses, cleared danger and stayed calm through extra time.
Taylor knows what that stadium demands of defenders. The former Celtic full-back spent years playing in these matches. Watching Scales lead the team in those conditions stood out to him.
He said: (Premier Sports), “Scalesy done unbelievably well because you forget he came from Shamrock Rovers however many years ago and actually went on loan to Aberdeen.
“So to now be captain of the club away at Ibrox in a quarter-final just tells you about his journey, and he deserves it.”
Scales’ route to that moment has not been smooth. He joined Celtic from Shamrock Rovers in 2021 and spent time out on loan at Aberdeen while trying to force his way into the squad. There were periods where his long-term place at the club looked uncertain.
Sunday showed how far he has come. Playing on the left side of defence meant dealing with Rangers’ wingers and long balls into the box. He stayed disciplined and helped Celtic keep a clean sheet across two hours of football.
The captaincy also carried weight. McGregor normally leads the side, and his absence removed a steady voice from midfield. Scales stepped into that role and organised the back line throughout the afternoon.
Penalty shootouts always carry tension. Celtic’s players held their nerve, and the defensive work that kept the game level gave them that chance. Scales had already done his job long before the final kick went in.
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