Celtic won’t be playing after Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this weekend and that is actually a pretty rare event these days.
As Chris Sutton noted in his Daily Record column last week, Ange Postecoglou’s Bhoys have played after the Ibrox side on a massive 18 occasions so far this season, owing mostly to the way the Sky Sports schedule has fallen.
This weekend sees the Bhoys kick-off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon at home to Motherwell, with Rangers making the trip up to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen at 4:30pm.
This may sound inconsequential to many. Certainly, we aren’t going to be hearing any public utterances from anyone at Celtic on this issue, but it’s been a bugbear for some supporters throughout the season.
Sutton, who has extensive experience of title races in Scotland as both a winner and loser reckons it can be a factor as the months unfold, noting: “It is far from easy when you are the ones who constantly have to respond to results.”
It’s a credit to the strength of Ange Postecoglou’s squad and their mentality that they haven’t blinked at all, despite the points gap consistently being reduced by three points before our game in hand restores normal service.
By this point of the season, it seems more of an observation for us than a genuine advantage for the Bhoys. Most recognise the title race is done and dusted after we beat Michael Beale’s outfit at Celtic Park earlier this month.
Nonetheless, the chance to open up a 15-point lead tomorrow afternoon won’t escape fan attention. That’s an enormous gap and a little more pressure that would be put on Rangers’ shoulders for a tough test against Barry Robson’s resurgent Dons the following afternoon.
If Celtic get the job done against Motherwell on Saturday then players, staff and supporters can put their feet up and enjoy the Sunday football knowing that the best case scenario across the city is a status quo of 12 points.
That sounds like good fun to me!
In other news, Sead Haksabanovic names his best mates in Celtic dressing room and explains his celebration.
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