Fireworks were set off and fans gathered to celebrate a one off victory against a Celtic team that was without three of the usual back four and two of their usual front three. Oh, and the game was a dead rubber because Celtic have already been crowned champions due to entering the game with an unassailable 13 point lead.
We may see similar scenes over the next couple of weeks as Celtic fans celebrate winning their second successive league title, the club’s 11th in 12 seasons. The small matter of a world record eighth treble could also produce such scenes if the Hoops can overcome Inverness.
In short, while Celtic fans celebrate endless trophies and clean sweeps of the domestic silverware, others overcelebrate one off victories against depleted teams, attaching false meaning to them.
Celtic have beaten theRangers four times this season and drew the other contest between the sides, when something was riding on the outcome. Ange has seen his side demolish them 4-0, has built up a significant lead at the top sufficient to win the title and knocked them out of a semi final and Cup final.
I’m not going to say that the derby match yesterday meant nothing at all. It’s never desirable to lose any game, particularly to your rivals and especially not by a three goal margin. But it also has no bearing on this season or next. The return of the five regular starters who were absent yesterday will make a difference as has been shown in the other matches between the sides, particularly where Kyogo is concerned. And there will also be incomings this summer, with Celtic having another £25m plus of Champions League money to invest.
All that’s happened is there’s been a small dent to Celtic’s pride. However, bragging rights remain at Parkhead with at least two trophies to show for the season, possibly three, to theRangers zero and four wins to their one.
Their over the top celebrations and nonsense from Bosnia about miracle turnarounds because they beat a second string Celtic side in a game with no consequences just highlights our dominance. It’s 1994/95 all over again, when Celtic toiled and tried to overcelebrate a 3-0 victory of their own in a derby. Nothing changed in terms of league titles the next season.
Ange has a whole pre-season, a summer transfer market and five players to return to the team which have dominated the rest of Scottish football this season. Doomsday isn’t around the corner and no amount of fireworks can change that.