'Firm tide has turned sharply' - Donnelly

Simon Donnelly

Ronnie Esplin

Former Celtic striker Simon Donnelly believes Rangers are experiencing the same sense of powerlessness he felt for a time at Parkhead in the 1990s.

When Donnelly made his Hoops debut in 1994, Rangers were domestic treble winners from the previous season and top dogs in Glasgow before the Parkhead side stopped them achieving 10 titles in a row in 1998.

The tables have turned since then with Celtic looking for back-to-back domestic trebles this season and unbeaten against Rangers in nine games ahead of their Scottish Cup semi-final meeting in Hampden next month.

Brendan Rodgers' men go into the game bolstered further by a 3-2 Ladbrokes Premiership win at Ibrox earlier in the month after falling behind twice and finishing the game with 10 men.

It is a theme recognised by Donnelly, and the 43-year-old former Scotland striker said: "Celtic kind of have a hoodoo over Rangers at the moment.

"I experienced that myself back in the day but it was the other way around. It is not a nice feeling and it plays on you.

"I think it played on them at Ibrox. There was that lack of belief as Celtic came back twice. I think they had to get two goals in front to get the real belief. I would expect Celtic to win the semi-final," he added.