Celtic Fans Should Put This One Aside. Just As Their Fans Did In May 1995.

Far be it for me to disagree with James, but…

Winning is one thing. But winning when it matters is another.

No-one wants to lose, especially not to a side playing at Ibrox.

But there’s losing when it is important, and losing when it isn’t.

One of my main early teenage memories is Celtic beating Rangers 3-0 in May 1995.

My 15-year old was excited but couldn’t understand why the Rangers’ supporters kept cheering at the end (in the days where the losing team didn’t spit the dummy and ban rival fans).

My Dad pointed out – quite correctly – that they didn’t care. Beating your rivals in decisive games is something to cheer, not in dead rubber fixtures.

This isn’t to say there aren’t lessons to be learned from today.

Some fringe players got a chance – and didn’t take it. There are areas we need to strengthen next season.

We need a ball winner in the middle of the park. A proper winger on the right who can beat a man.

But this wasn’t our first team, and we will strengthen over the summer.

Anyone of an Ibrox persuasion who treats this as a turning point is welcome to do so. But that way almost certainly lies disappointment.

Perhaps the best way to think about it is this.

In that May 1995 game, Celtic had a cup final to look forward to. That can’t be said of those who were today at Ibrox.

In two weeks, Celtic will be presented with the league trophy. In three weeks, there’s a Scottish Cup Final and chance of a Treble.

If we win that game, who will care about today’s match?

No-one. Do you know why? Because it didn’t matter.

But trophies and success too. Something only to be found in Glasgow’s east end.

Matthew Marr is a regular contributer to this blog. He tweets at @hailhailhistory. He has also written a book about Celtic’s first league title, available here.

[https://celticstarbooks.com/product/the-bould-bhoys-glory-to-their-name-by-matthew-marr/]