Even for those buying the “same club myth” this weekend dropped a bit of bad news.
Celtic are now just six wins behind Rangers/Sevco in the all-time stakes after producing a gutsy performance to win the Glasgow derby at the weekend.
The Celtic Park side now have 153 wins to 159 for the Ibrox clubs, while there have been 99 draws over the years.
Of course, in strictly technical terms the record is actually much better than that … eleven games, eight wins, two draws and that single cup-semi defeat on penalties.
But the press likes records … and even by their reckoning we’re closing in on another one.
It now seems like only a matter of time before Celtic gain the upper hand, even in the SFA’s version of the history books, and then start to pull away from what some say are their fierce rivals.
The weekend’s game showed just how far apart the two clubs are, making a mockery of talk of an impending power shift in Glasgow that came from some quarters in the build up to the game.
Graeme Murty’s men had won four games in a row, capitalising on Celtic’s uncharacteristically sluggish form to cut the deficit to just six points at the top of the table. Victory, some thought, would have blown the title race wide open, and talk abounded of Celtic’s recent domestic monopoly turning rapidly into a duopoly once again. And in the earlier part the hosts were surging with confidence and must have smelled blood when Josh Windass struck past debutant Scott Bain in the third minute.
Tom Rogic’s equaliser was a thing of beauty and Moussa Dembele broke the home side’s hearts once more by cancelling out Daniel Candelas’ goal on the stroke of half-time.
The game could have slipped away from the Hoops after Jozo Simunovic’s red card, but the visitors landed a crucial blow after 69 minutes when Odsonne Edouard curled in to make it 3-2. After that Celtic were dogged, disciplined and mature, qualities the opposition simply could not call upon on the day.
Not only did their greater experience and stronger mentality shine through, but Celtic’s superior technical expertise was undeniable.
Olivier Ntcham and Scott Brown were too strong in midfield, and Rogic and Dembele were far too good going forwards. Even without Scott Sinclair, arguably the best player in the league, and down to 10 men, Celtic had too much for them.
That bodes well for the immediate future, not least because Celtic have some stronger emerging talent and their finances are in better shape.
Check out a review of Bet365, find the best odds, and you will see that Celtic are now expected to cruise to the title.
They are now nine points clear, with a game in hand.
Brendan Rodgers was understandably delighted after the game and he can look forwards with positivity now.
He took a swipe at the Ibrox club afterwards.
“There was a lot of noise coming into the game but the boys kept their humility and had to twice come from behind,” he said. “They then came up with a brilliant, brilliant win. The odds are against you at times. It was like a game I’d watch when I was growing up watching Celtic versus Rangers. We were behind twice but we had great pride in the team. We played well and showed that toughness and character you need. In fairness to them they have been in really good form and this was at the height of their confidence levels.”
Beating your rivals whilst they are at the height of their confidence levels, and with a man down, is a sign of superiority, and the hosts will be licking their wounds for a while. Can anything stop Celtic dominating this team called Rangers for the next five years and surging into a comfortable lead in what we’re told are the all-time stakes?
There is a danger that the vultures will come circling and EPL clubs are said to be interested in Rodgers.
Dembele could also be a target if he continues to recapture the form that put him on everyone’s radar last season.
But as long as any transfer money is used wisely as reinvestment in the squad, Celtic should still be able to blow Sevco out of the water. We remain an attractive club, where trophies and Champions League football are all but guaranteed, Celtic should continue to appeal to bright young stars like Dembele. If Rodgers goes, the next appointment will be crucial, but he seems happy and he could well end up staying for several more years, to lead his team to further glory and greater derby dominance.
Tom Wilson is a sometimes blogger and football fan from London.
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