‘As the clocks go back it’s time for Celtic to stride forward,’ Niall J

SINCE Celtic’s recent collapse on the back of an own goal inflicted draw against Hibs, quickly followed by the 10 men for 60 minutes 2-0 defeat at Livingston, had the knives out.

By the time the half term break for schoolkids came around the Celtic report card according to certain media outlets was somewhere between ‘Easily distracted’ and ‘Must do better’. Turns out reports of Celtic’s demise have not only been exaggerated but probably engineered by a media desperate for a change to the general order of things.

Since then Celtic have returned from the international break with a thumping 6-0 win Over Ross County at Celtic Park, followed by a second half fight back from a goal behind against Lazio to win 2-1 in the Europa League at ‘Fortress Parkhead’.

That report card would probably now read ‘meeting expected standards’ and the narrative the media hoped to follow was sidelined by the ‘Rangers’ insipid performance at Tynecastle last Sunday.

Sunday lunchtime, Celtic face the first of two trips this season to Pittodrie to face an Aberdeen side who no matter how they play in the build up to these games, tend to reserve some improved form for the visit of the Champions. It has always been thus.

To look at this game in isolation and given the lack of room for manoeuvre at the top of the table you’d be forgiven for thinking Celtic have no room for error. Instead the truth of the matter is the result is likely to have little impact on Celtic’s long term quest to be top of the league. It could however have seriously detrimental effects on the confidence of our nearest challengers should Celtic return from Aberdeen with maximum points.

Make no mistake this is a game the ‘Rangers’ fans will be keeping a very close eye on. Whilst Celtic would expect to score the goals and bank the points necessary to maintain their league leading position, it’s far from necessary given Celtic’s league fixtures over the next few weeks.

Celtic currently lie top of the pile despite the league fixtures somehow coming out a little lopsided earlier in the season in the favour of our Govan rivals. The problem with the computer’s interpretation early doors, is that no matter what home and away fixtures are spouted out, until the league splits, at some point at least they must reach parity. Those chickens are coming home to roost over the next few weeks. The Rangers have not taken advantage.

A Celtic side undefeated at home in domestic leagues and Cups must now face a schedule very much to the advantage of a side simply purring in their home environment.

The only side to defeat Celtic have faced in any kind of fixture at Celtic Park was Cluj. As such our current run of games would warm any Celtic heart as the clocks go back to signify winter and the chill sets in.

Of our next seven league fixtures Celtic face St Mirren at home on Wednesday night followed by further home fixtures against Motherwell and Livingston on the 10th and 23rd November respectively. On the back of these we have two away games at Ross County on 1 December and St Johnstone on 8 December, sandwiched between these two winnable fixtures is another home tie on the 4 December to Hamilton.

On current form and based on previous meetings this season, on paper at least, these two away fixtures should prove little real opposition. With Hibs at home on 15 December another tie we’d expect to win, it looks like the next genuine test to our title credentials after tomorrow lunchtime will come on the 18 December when we travel to Tynecastle. That’s a long time hoping for a slip up for our rivals.

All of the next seven fixtures look like they could and should be negotiated with the minimum of fuss. Scary then for our rivals tomorrow to consider Celtic leaving with three points in the bag and a Celtic side snowballing in confidence as winter kicks in.

As the clocks go back it’s time for Celtic to stride forward.

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible”- Francis of Assisi.

A win tomorrow may not be necessary, but it would be a welcome shot across the boughs of an opponent needing us to slip up.

Victory at Pittodrie ramps up the pressure. The schools could be closed for Christmas before any further chance of a gift wrapped opportunity arises again.

By then Celtic’s report card could read ‘exceeding expectations’.

Niall J

About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

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