This festive season marks the first time that Celtic have sat top of the league at Christmas for three years. On the last occasion we were in pole position at this time of year, Neil Lennon’s side had played 18 games and amassed 16 wins with one draw and one loss. This time our record is similar as Ange Postecoglou’s men have racked up 17 wins and lost one game from 18 matches.
Last Christmas, the Bhoys were six points adrift of The Rangers, courtesy of three draws and three defeats on their record. However, we all know how that campaign ended up as Celtic are now defending SPFL champions. If we are to cast our minds back slightly further, Christmas 2020 was one of mixed emotions. The club had just completed the Quadruple Treble with a victory over Hearts on penalties, but in the league they were toiling. Unbelievably, Celtic went into Christmas having won just 11 matches from 16, trailing the leaders by 16 points. An unacceptable gap, which would widen by a further nine before the season’s close.
So, this year is another marker on the road of progress that Ange has taken us along. We are once more top of the league at the festive period, with a healthy gap between ourselves and our closest rivals. Let’s hope domestic dominance continues and our next marker appears in the form of Champions League victories.