Disappointed, frustrated, cheated but still all to play for with plenty of optimism…

Yesterday left us all with plenty of mixed emotions after one of the most dramatic Glasgow derby’s in recent memory.

From our own point of view we have got to be disappointed after leading 2-0 at the break while looking the much better side, but also content the destination of the title is still very much in our own hands. 2-0 is a funny scoreline in football because the next goal either kills the game or sends a wave of optimism through the team that pulls one back.

We played like champions in the first half and Daizen Maeda’s fortunate but well deserved quick fire goal got us off to a dream start. We were even awarded a penalty! Yes shock horror, which Matt O’Riley slotted home with great calmness and composure amongst great pressure.

In fact if it wasn’t for Jack Butland in theRangers goal then we could have been three or four up at the break. But we let ourselves down by doing something we’ve been guilty of far too often this season, as we failed to be consistent over the entirety of the ninety plus minutes.

Despite some dubious decisions by John Beaton, we allowed theRangers to come back into it, and although Adam Idah looked to have won it for us late on, we again let ourselves down allowing the Ibrox side to equalise in stoppage time.

I saw this on a Celtic page on Facebook...FABIO SILVA HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PORTUGAL DIVING TEAM FOR OLYMPICS…

Cast your minds back to the moments after Tom Rogic scored a late goal in the 2017 Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen to give Celtic a 2-1 advantage with just a few minutes left to play. While we were all going crazy Chris Davies whispered in Brendan’s ear and a quick-fire substitution was made, Jozo Simunovic came on if memory serves me correctly and a forward went off. Then Aberdeen launched a few balls into our area which were dealt with.

Where was that moment after Adam Idah’s goal? Sacrifice Yang and bring on Anthony Ralston and the points would have been won. And that’s not being wise after the event because Celtic fans would have been screaming this at their television screens before getting the gut wrenching feeling of being proved right.

Whilst feeling disappointed, we still have a great opportunity to win the title. It’s still in our own hands, and we’ve got to take great heart and confidence from that first half display.

Celtic have the easier run-in with four home matches – one against theRangers – and only two away from home, most likely against St Mirren and Kilmarnock.

Contrast that with their seven match run-in with FIVE away from home including on that Dens Park pitch which will be a great leveller on Wednesday night then a trip to Dingwall at the weekend. They will also have to visit Hearts (no laughing at the back) and Celtic Park post split.

With vital players also back for the run in, we can still look ahead with great optimism.

If we win all our games we are Champions If no points are dropped by either side up to the Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park then they will need to get something from Celtic Park. And it will be 60,000 Celtic supporters making the noise.

Yesterday was an opportunity lost there is no doubt about that – the disgraceful edited footage shown to Beaton seemed to narrow it down to ‘was there contact’…answer YES so penalty. However the full incident shows that Johnston got the ball and he contact that followed was not excessive (far from it, as shown by the on-field decision by Beaton) nor was it careless. It was a disgraceful decision.

READ THIS ON CELTIC SHORTS…Bottom line is that Celtic needed something from Ibrox and got it

Yang looked like a rabbit lost in the headlights and surely the experienced ‘super-sub’ James Forrest would have been a better choice to replace Kuhn (who like Yang didn’t cope with the occasion)? But in that moment when we went 3-2 up and were heading for a Beautiful Sunday, Brendan failed to make the tactical chance that could have prevented that equaliser. Did he watch their highlights from the Hibs game last weekend?

John Beaton – Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Clement described the result as a victory. The booing at half-time was delicious. Hugh Keevins predicted a 3-0 win for theRangers, with CCV in the Celtic side. He reckoned it was going to be 4-0 if the American defender missed out.

Their support was full of optimism too. Watch this and incidentally respect to the Norwegian chap who was there undercover…