Chris Sutton has voiced his support for the Green Brigade’s return from their ban from Celtic matches.
Celtic announced the GB’s return on Tuesday, ending an absence that had extended indefinitely after an initial ban in November.
The news has largely been well-received by fans, given the inevitable boost that the fan group will give to the stadium’s atmosphere with their traditional noise from the Safe Standing section in the North Curve.
And Sutton is backing them to make the difference in the run-in.
Your thoughts on the news?
Chris Sutton backs Green Brigade to ‘cheer Celtic on’ to Scottish Premiership
Sutton wrote on X: “The Green Brigade are back to cheer Celtic on to the title.”
The group’s return means that they will be present in the North Curve for four of the team’s six remaining Premiership matches.
READ MORE: SPFL chief operating officer explains Celtic post-split decision-making process
This will maximise Celtic’s home advantage for a title race in which Hearts have just three home games remaining, and Rangers have just two.
Both of those teams will visit Celtic Park before the end of the season, with the Jambos heading there for a potentially seismic curtain closer on matchday 38.
However overdue, the announcement of the decision is a timely boost for Martin O’Neill’s side, who aren’t just targeting a league title.
The Hoops face St Mirren in the final pre-split fixtures on Saturday before meeting them again at Hampden in the final of the Scottish Cup.
If they can prevail in that, which is far from guaranteed given what happened in the Premier Sports Cup final, they will face one of Falkirk or Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline in the final.
It would be somewhat poetic for that final to close the book on O’Neill’s interim return, given that the same occasion marked the final victory of his first spell.
It would also be fitting given how he was denied the aforementioned League Cup Final in December in favour of the ill-fated fast track of Wilfried Nancy.
Your first thought when you see the fixtures…
How many points will we pick up?
Celtic’s previous performances against their post-split opponents
Celtic’s five post-split fixtures will, of course, be repeats of clashes that have already taken place this season.
In fact, the Falkirk game – the first after the split – will be the Bairns’ third Parkhead visit this season. Both Brendan Rodgers and O’Neill have prevailed in the two preceding Glasgow encounters.
Both Hearts and Rangers have already won at Celtic Park – but of course, both of those games fell during Nancy’s tenure.
The Frenchman also took charge of Celtic’s only visit to Fir Park this season, which he also lost.
Under O’Neill, Celtic won their trip to Easter Road in November.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
