A Celtic win at Ibrox will set up yet another title triumph

Celtic really must win at Ibrox tomorrow, nothing less will do. Had we beaten Hibs last weekend we could quite easily have settled for a draw in the Glasgow Derby but that changed after the MIB skullduggery…

A Celtic fan flies an Irish Tricolour on the way to Ibrox on Beautiful Sunday — A Celtic fan flies an Irish Tricolour on the way to Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Ibrox, 11 March 2018. Credit: Photo by Stuart Wallace Shutterstock/IMAGO

We must win at Ibrox tomorrow afternoon if we harbour any hope of defending our title. That’s the blatant truth, nothing else will suffice. A draw wouldn’t exactly be a total disaster, but if we want to win the title, then all three points is what we should be looking for, it really is that simple.

With Hearts, who face a poor Aberdeen side at Tynecastle later this afternoon, looking to capitalise on the result Govan, it’s imperative we don’t give them any sort of encouragement, and we must instead show the Jambos, as well as theRangers why we are the champions of Scotland.

A dejected fan of theRangers sits with his head in his hands in the Govan Stand after watching his team lose 3-2 against 10 men Celtic. theRangers v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Ibrox, 11 March 2018. Photo Photo by Stuart Wallace Shutterstock/IMAGO

We haven’t won against the Ibrox club in a league meeting since a 3-0 win at Celtic Park back in September 2024, and that quite frankly isn’t good enough, in fact it’s a shocking stat truth be told, even though we have had cup wins since that game.

You have to go back even further for our last win behind enemy lines, which was a slender 1-0 victory back in September 2023, although we have lost only once in Govan since then, but it’s a stat we must be aiming to

Celtic fans in the Free Broomloan on Beautiful Sunday, 11 March 2018 — Celtic players walk off the pitch triumphant after the final whistle. Celtic won the match 3-2. theRangers v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Ibrox, 11 March 2018. Photo: Stuart Wallace

We have a man leading us who is well versed in winning. Martin O’Neill certainly knows what it takes to win these fixtures, having previous of going to Govan to face the now liquidated Rangers FC in must win games, and leaving triumphant on many occasions.

The players also have the experience needed to succeed in such a hostile environment. More importantly they have the medals to prove that they are winners, but most crucially must show that from the first whistle against an Ibrox side unproven in pressure situations.

Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic celebrates after scoring during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic FC at Ibrox on September 03, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It will be tough, that’s a fact. The blue noses of theRangers always raise themselves for the big games, especially against our green and white hoops. But it’s far from impossible, and a challenge we must overcome if we harbour aspirations of retaining the title and being Champions of Scotland yet again.

Celtic went to Stuttgart on Thursday night and beat a much better team that we’ll face tomorrow. The atmosphere there was intense although devoid of the bigotry and hatred that they’ll create tomorrow. Hearts fans recently noted that this had an impact on their team in their recent 4-2 defeat at Ibrox. If Celtic can handle that better than Hearts then we have nothing much to fear.