Rivals, eah? When we gonna some do you think?
Today was easy. Today was a Saturday stroll.
It was particularly enjoyable because several players were excellent; Olivier was brilliant in the middle of the park and scored a nice goal. Jonny Hayes had his best day in a Celtic strip and scored. The defence looked more relaxed, against a team the media had predicted would give us problems.
The only problems our defence might have had today was boredom.
We now have an eight-point lead. Aberdeen have proved themselves incapable of getting anything from us yet again. For a week, since the Hearts game, we heard how dangerous this one was going to be for us, but you would not have known that to watch us play today.
The swagger was back. It was beautiful to watch at times.
I still think we need to be a little bit more clinical in the next two games.
Dundee waits for us on Tuesday night in what will be a tough battle. By this time next week Graeme Murty ought to be facing calls for his head so loud that his eardrums shatter. If we play like we did today and they play the way they did it will make the 5-1’s of last season look like we went easy on them.
Players have got their heads up again. It’s, as I said, as if the bag of bricks has been taken off their shoulders. They are playing without fear once more.
We weren’t even tested today. Was that because Aberdeen was poor or because we were good? I am going to give us the credit we deserve. The midfield fought and protected the defence. We used width brilliantly. We kept our foot on their throats even after we got the second goal. And the defence itself did what it had to professionally and coolly.
Dedryk looks like a better player with Ajer next to him. Is it as simple as that? As finding the right partnerships? The kid Ajer should play against Sevco; I don’t know if he will, but he is a fantastic prospect who is already growing into the role.
The league race is just about done. There will be dropped points along the way, but our form is going to be far better than that of the team that’s chasing us. And I use the word “team” very deliberately. Aberdeen are our biggest rival now and that’s not even up for debate.
Put them away, and the job’s done.
Brendan wants a double digit lead by January; that’s not entirely in our hands, but we’re doing our part.
We’ve got this.
Normal service has been resumed.