Celtic have a commanding lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership as they remain unbeaten domestically after the weekend’s action.
The Hoops’ draw with Dundee United means that with two games to go before going to face Rangers at Ibrox, Brendan Rodgers has a healthy nine-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Celtic boss was fairly philosophical about the Tannadice stalemate despite naming a Celtic side to face Dundee United that was ravaged by illness and injury.
However, a draw was probably a fair result and as Celtic fans may well see this as two points dropped, Pat Bonner had a different take on both teams sharing the spoils as the fixtures come thick and fast ahead of the Glasgow Derby.
Pat Bonner says Celtic ‘will be happy’ with Dundee United draw
Bonner told BBC Radio Scotland [26m 12s], “Overall, when you look at the way that they [Celtic] played today, they still played the same possession game, the same build-up, all of that was there.
“Just take a couple of players out of it, and it just creates a different dynamic.
“And maybe on another day, they might have got that elusive goal and they might have been able to get out of this difficult place to come to this time of the season and get the three points.
“But they’d still be happy to get their point and get it down the road.”
Pat Bonner tells Rangers Celtic can ‘afford’ Dundee United draw ahead of Ibrox game
And with the Glasgow Derby just a matter of days away now, Bonner sends the Ibrox club a reminder that despite Celtic’s draw at the weekend, the Parkhead club can sustain dropping points before the big New Year clash.
“They’ve got home games now coming up,” Bonner continued, “And they’ll be looking to win those games. They still have that gap at the top now, which is important now, it obviously gives Rangers a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
“Just another two points taken away from Celtic, or closes the gap a little bit and then going into the Rangers game at Ibrox, that’s going to be a that’s going to be a huge game now.
“But ultimately, I think, from Celtic, they’ve done all the hard work early in the season to maybe afford a day like this, not to pick up the three points.”
Celtic now have two home fixtures against Motherwell and St Johnstone whereas Rangers face tough trips to St Mirren and Fir Park before the Ibrox game.
Any dropped points on the road will pile pressure on Rangers as Celtic will look to take all six points, especially having the home advantage.
If that scenario plays out, then a win at Ibrox will make Rangers’ recent recovery pale into significance if Rodgers continues his excellent Celtic record against his rivals.
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