Yesterday I wrote an article on the five season-defining moments that lead Celtic to win this season’s Scottish Premiership.
You can read that here, but for now, Chris Sutton has highlighted a specific Glasgow Derby where at full-time, he was convinced that the title was returning to the Parkhead trophy cabinet.
Writing in his column in the Daily Record, Sutton said, “In year one, the new manager didn’t have it from outside. Taking over with a 25-point deficit, few gave him a hope of doing what he did and wresting the title back from Rangers. This time around, a contrasting story. Burden and expectation were placed upon him entering the campaign as champions. It’s what makes this season’s surge to the title even more impressive than his first.
“Postecoglou’s men were up and running as soon as it started and, to be perfectly honest, there was little doubt where the title was destined to end up from the minute they hammered Rangers 4-0 on their own patch last September. Only six games had gone after that comprehensive win but, with a five-point lead already in the bag, Postecoglou’s men had a grip which barely loosened.”
In my list of games that helped shape Celtic into Champions, I highlighted this result as a big moment in the season. Coming off the back of a 9-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice, Celtic knew that with goals coming from all over the park, Rangers would struggle to cope.
And if they are honest with themselves, so did Rangers.
That 4-0 win was the early season marker that Ange Postecoglou needed to put down but even at that time, I didn’t share Sutton’s confidence that the title destination was already decided.
It helped, but there was still a lot of football left to be played.
Now Celtic go to Ibrox as champions and Callum McGregor will be looking to stamp his authority over Rangers this Saturday as the Bhoys gear up for a possible Treble-winning season.
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