On 26 November 2000, just three months after Martin O’Neill’s Celtic had annihilated Rangers at Celtic Park in the 6–2 game, we went to Ibrox fully entitled to believe we were the masters of the Scottish football universe. What happened that day will live in infamy because something went catastrophically wrong. We were on the end of a four-goal reversal as they defeated us 5–1.
Over those two fixtures, both sides scored seven goals. That’s marginally worse than our last two matches against the club that currently resides across the city—the one that calls itself Rangers but isn’t. In a strange twist of fate, our 3–0 win at the start of this season has now been reversed, just as a four-goal margin was reversed back then.
But here’s the thing: we left Ibrox that day 12 points clear at the top of the league. It made no difference at all to the title race outcome. When we returned to Ibrox later in the season, we smashed them 3–0, with Lubo scoring twice and Larsson grabbing goal number 50 of a stunning campaign.
This time, we leave Ibrox 11 points clear.
The echoes and parallels are obvious. Let’s not forget that the 2000–01 season ended with a treble. I’m sure there are fans of theirs who look back on that November game with pride and satisfaction, probably still watching it on repeat. But then there are Celtic fans who still enjoy rewatching our 5–1 win under Joe Venglos, just as others fondly recall the Valentine’s Day Massacre and the Palm Sunday Slaughter—two glorious victories at home in 1991 during an otherwise dire season.
Writing in The Scotsman, Glen Gibbons said the following of Martin O’Neill and his team in his match report from that 2000 game:
“The Irishman surely would not welcome the opportunity to make this voyage of discovery on the back of such a comprehensive reversal, but he has, since his arrival, impressed as a character who would not allow one thrashing on a bad day to infect the psyche of players who had previously demonstrated a hardness of spirit that has made them long odds-on to win the league title.”
That same hardness of spirit is more than evident in this team.
As I said earlier today, the one thing you will not find anyone at Celtic doing is making excuses or feeling sorry for themselves. They know it was an unacceptably poor display. They know we should never have turned in a performance like that. Every one of them is determined to put it right.
What I needed to hear and read in the aftermath of that game is exactly what I heard and read. There is genuine anger in the Celtic camp at how easily they allowed themselves to be bossed, bullied, and beaten. Lessons will be taken from that game into the next one. Callum McGregor and the manager have talked about tweaking the tactics, which is music to my ears. Everyone knows how necessary that is.
But there’s a strong mentality at this club that cannot be denied or shifted. It’s a mentality that will see us through this hurdle and into the next series of games. I believe this won’t break this team but instead mark the start of our next long winning run. This team has given us ample reason to have faith.
Sometimes these results happen.
It’s no coincidence they tend to occur when a team is ascendant and the league race already looks over, as it does now.
Does that mean a little complacency crept in? Complacency might be the wrong word, but ask yourself this: with a 14-point lead, major European games ahead, and so much football left this season, were our players really going to put themselves in harm’s way in a blood-and-thunder battle if they could avoid it?
That doesn’t mean there’s a mentality problem in this team. These are human beings, and human beings sometimes have off days. What we cannot forgive, and must not allow, is for this result to knock us off course. We still have important business to take care of, but the odds remain in our favour. We have points in the bank, the best squad already, and we can add quality to it over the next month.
If you asked Celtic fans to recall the horror of 26 November 2000, you’d struggle to find anyone who remembers or cares how they felt that day.
Ask them, instead, about the Scottish Cup Final when we secured the treble, or about that return game at Ibrox when we recorded a win – the first time I personally had ever seen us win there – and they’ll have all sorts of memories to share. The long and short of it is, no one cares about days like that in the grand scheme. The history books record them, but ultimately, they’re meaningless in terms of the bigger picture.
This result will be remembered in the same way. A weird sort of anomaly, much like the last 3–0 win they secured at Ibrox over us at the end of Ange’s tenure. That result did them no good, as they drew every wrong lesson from it. And if you look across the city now, they’re doing exactly the same thing again.
And you know what? That’s why we’re better than them.
I commend you for the positive approach and using comparisons from previous eras, however, I cannot remember a time when a Celtic team was so outplayed, outworked, outfought and humiliated by Rangers. It’s as though the team and manager has been found out. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that game. Hopefully, we can make some quality signings this month and make some sort of improvement. No doubt, our European rivals will watch that game and learn a great lot from it
“Rangers are dead” Dan – However I agree with absolutely everything else in your letter though !
“Outfought and humiliated “
We sure were Dan, like you I have never seen a worse performance from a Celtic team,
They’ll cling onto this like a limpet. Tho if we just keep on winnin it’s a small comfort for them. And tbh, ah think an added and obvious way tae really get back at them, is tae win the next time we play them. Preferably convincingly.
Defo need a change in tactics Kevcelt59 for that to happen…
And a seismic shift in positive attitude and positive energy as well for sure !
Sorry james but but what you read and hear doesn’t matter 2fcuks, it’s what the players do on the pitch tomorrow and that’s it in a nutshell, go out and hammer the St’s that’s what counts.