Tomorrow’s game is an absolute ‘must win’ for Celtic…
The Bhoys’ New Year record against any Rangers team is woeful, so Saturday’s match would be the ideal time to start changing this.
To make sure the Hoops take the three points, Brendan Rodgers and his team have to fix some of the weaknesses Celtic have shown in recent weeks, including poor finishing.
But the Celts also have to defy much of the negative history surrounding New Year games versus any Rangers.
‘New Year’ matches (whether played on New Year’s Day or dates close to this) between Celtic and ‘Rangers’ have been part of the Bhoys’ calendar since 1894. That year, an Ibrox team won 3-2 at Celtic Park in a friendly.
In the first few years of such encounters (which apart from the first three have all been competitive), Celtic struggled, winning two out of six up to 1900. This latter match – a 3-2 league win at Celtic Park – was also the first competitive game between the two sides played on New Year’s Day itself.
Since then, derbies at this time of year have provided some significant moments, for different reasons. There has been record attendances, crowd trouble and the tragedy of 1971 which took the lives of 66 Rangers fans.
Celtic have celebrated on various occasions. In recent memory, perhaps the most important moment was in 1998. On 2 January, Paul Lambert’s stunning strike sealed a 2-0 win which helped Celtic to win the league, and stop Rangers’ 10-in-a-row attempts.
The Bhoys were also the first side to win an ‘Old Firm’ New Year fixture. The phrase – discontinued since 2012 – was first coined ahead of the 1904 Scottish Cup Final (which Celtic won). The first completed New Year’s Day game after that was 1906, when the Celts claimed a 1-0 victory.
However these successes aside, Celtic have generally come off worst when playing any Rangers team at New Year.
In Scottish League games since 1899, the Bhoys have played an Ibrox team 106 times at New Year (counting all fixtures from late December to early January). Celtic have won only 26 of these matches, at the same time drawing 29 and losing 51. This includes some long periods without success, such as 1955 to 1965 where Celtic lost each time.
The scoring records make for equally poor comparison. Whilst Celtic have scored 112, they have conceded 161.
Even if we split Celtic’s record against both Rangers (1872 and 2012), the figures remain weak. In the six New Year games that Celtic have played against ‘Rangers 2012’, the Bhoys have won only once, drawn twice and lost three times.
On a more positive note, there are some signs that should bring Celtic positive feelings. In the twenty-first century, Celtic’s record versus both Rangers is better, winning five out of 12 games, whilst drawing four and losing three. The goal difference for this era is +5 (14 scored, nine conceded).
Similarly, ‘New Year’ games played in December also favour Celtic. This has happened seven times in total (all since 2000) and has seen Celtic win three and lose and draw two games each.
In addition, these stats only count games played at New Year, not ones that were scheduled but postponed. So this does not take account matches such as February 2022’s 3-0 win Or the famous 4-2 victory in 1979.
And of course there is the fact that Celtic are the current champions, Treble winners last season, and ahead at the top of the league. A full Celtic Park backing the Bhoys is more than capable of celebrating three points.
Tomorrow will be a hard game. But it is very winnable, and a chance to reassert Celtic’s place as Scotland’s top team after a few set-backs in December. C’mon you Bhoys in green!
Matthew Marr
To find out the full story of Celtic’s first League title, you can buy Matthew Marr’s debut book, ‘The Bould Bhoys! Glory to their name’. It’s available now in our HALF PRICE WINTER SALE over on Celtic Star Books.
Follow Matthew on Twitter @hailhailhistory
