Celtic have notoriously found Easter Road to be a difficult venue to claim points from in the Scottish Premiership under Brendan Rodgers.
The Irishman won his first match in Leith across either spell in charge earlier this year. Adam Idah produced heroics from the penalty spot to send the away support into raptures.
Nevertheless, this weekend presents a different proposition as Celtic travel to the capital. David Gray is now in charge, and his side got off to a disappointing start in the Scottish Premiership courtesy of a 3-0 defeat to St Mirren last weekend.
Junior Hoilett, Nicky Cadden and Kieran Bowie have joined the hosts ahead of the clash. Whether any feature remains to be seen, but they are bound to get a lift from their arrivals.
However, there is a brushed-over statistic that should offer Celtic plenty of encouragement as they prepare to do battle on Sunday.
Celtic’s cause for encouragement at Easter Road
It may be strange to mention this, but given the Hoops’ difficulties at Easter Road over recent years, the fixture often attracts significance as one of the more important Scottish Premiership bouts on the calendar.
Away clashes anywhere carry added importance. However, coming away from the capital with three points is usually a sign you are on the right track, even early into the season.
Fortunately, the Bhoys have lost just one of their last 21 fixtures against Hibernian. The sole defeat came at the tail end of Ange Postecoglou’s tenure, in a 4-2 scoreline at Easter Road, where a second-string line-up came up short in May 2023.
Supporters will remember that the Scottish Premiership was sewed up long before then, making the Bhoys’ record even more impressive in the context of meaningful matches.
Celtic need to continue building winning momentum
Kilmarnock last weekend was a great start for Celtic, as fast, free-flowing football was the order of the day at Parkhead.
Despite the lack of new arrivals, the group currently available to Rodgers are responding to his tactical methods. Now, just imagine what he could do with some new blood before the window closes.
Away from that, building momentum early on can erect the foundations for further silverware arriving at Parkhead. Leagues aren’t won or lost early on, though you can certainly put yourself on the back foot with one or two loose results.
Dropping points is never an option at Celtic, who will go all out to send the away support back home jubilant at Easter Road.
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