Celtic’s hopes of winning the Premiership title are well and truly on.
After Hearts dropped points against Motherwell on Saturday evening, Martin O’Neill’s side backed it up by securing all three points in the Glasgow derby on Sunday.
Celtic beat Rangers 3-1, including a crazy overhead kick from Daizen Maeda, to move one point behind leaders Hearts in the Premiership table.
67 Hail Hail has taken a look at three things we learned from this monumental win for Celtic, with Luke McCowan, Hyunjun Yang and the upcoming Motherwell clash all featuring.
Mixed fortunes for Luke McCowan
Before a ball was kicked, the surprise inclusion from O’Neill was starting McCowan on the right, and Sebastian Tounekti making way from the win over Hibernian last time out.
McCowan was at fault for Rangers’ opening goal, when he just didn’t win his duel by the touchline, but he more than made up for it.
That’s because it was the boyhood Celtic fans’ outstanding pass to Arne Engels, which then resulted in Yang levelling the game, before Maeda worked his magic in the second half.
McCowan was hooked at half-time for Tounekti, but he shouldn’t take it to heart because he kick-started Celtic’s comeback on a mixed afternoon for the midfielder.
Who was your Celtic MOTM vs Rangers?
Hyunjun Yang is transformed
To think that Celtic could have sold Yang last summer. It’s amazing the improvement he has made, because he has been one of the most positive stories of the season.
This was a player who wasn’t good enough to start under Brendan Rodgers, but now he has been transformed, because this was another outstanding display in a Glasgow derby.
Whether Yang is on the right or shifted to the left, as he did for the first half. Outstanding. Refreshing. And deserving of his flowers.
How would you use Yang next season?
Motherwell will be more difficult than Hearts
Celtic make the trip to Fir Park next, knowing that the title is in their hands if they win their final two post-split matches.
But you get the sense that this Motherwell clash is the most difficult.
The final day showdown against Hearts speaks for itself. But Motherwell, on their day, as Celtic know too well, can tear you apart, and this is going to be very, very tricky.
It’s a bold call, but if Celtic win at Motherwell, then I think the rest of the job will be done on the final day against Hearts.
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