Celtic are on Hearts’ tails after their win against Motherwell and the Jambos’ defeat to Kilmarnock, meaning the teams are separated by two points, but it doesn’t compare to their 15-point deficit they had to make up in the 2011/12 season.
At one stage the Hoops were nine points adrift of Derek McInnes’ side and if Martin O’Neill can win the league, it would be a remarkable achievement.
It would be one of the biggest comebacks in Celtic history but not the toughest one in terms of numbers when you look back at Neil Lennon’s turnaround in the 2010/11 season.
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Celtic were 15 points behind Rangers but won the league
In November 2011, the Hoops were 15 points behind Rangers and doubts about Lennon’s future were beginning to emerge.
Heading to Rugby Park, the Bhoys couldn’t afford to lose but found themselves 3-0 down at half-time. Changes were made and an Anthony Stokes brace and Charlie Mulgrew equaliser saw Lennon’s men earn a draw.
That was the catalyst to change things and what followed was a 17-game winning streak where they didn’t drop a single point until March.
Joe Ledley’s strike in the Glasgow derby on 28 December 2011 to secure a 1-0 win against Rangers was the one that really put Celtic in the ascendency.
How many points will Celtic end the season with?
Will it be enough to win the league? 😅
In the end it appeared to look like the Bhoys had won at a canter as they finished the league top of the table, 20 points clear of their nearest challengers.
This was largely helped by Rangers’ liquidation after they finished on 72 points but were relegated to the fourth tier of Scottish football.
Lennon’s ability to fight back and win the title sparked an era of dominance for the Bhoys, who have since won the league in all but one of the seasons since 2012.
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