In a tense and unpredictable race with Rangers, this weekend presents itself as a big opportunity for Celtic to properly test the Ibrox side’s title credentials.
Nobody expected both teams to lose in the last round of Scottish Premiership fixtures and Celtic’s inability to secure a result at Tynecastle was a failure to retake momentum heading into the final nine fixtures.
For many, that result was less about the Celtic display and more about poor officiating but the league table doesn’t care about context.
Celtic, playing at home to the ninth-placed side in the table St Johnstone, simply must be victorious later today by any means necessary and lay down a marker ahead of a tricky assignment for Rangers.
Celtic and Rangers title race enters final phase
It can’t be ignored that the Ibrox side are coming off of a pretty gruelling match against Benfica on Thursday night, in tough conditions.
Having ultimately been defeated, their schedule now becomes much more manageable but a lunchtime kick-off away to a top-six side in Dundee presents itself as a barrier.
Brendan Rodgers noted to reporters this weekend that he doesn’t care if he’s “the hunter or the hunted” heading into this final stretch of games but it is undeniable that it would be a significant boost for Celtic to enter the international break level on points or even in first position.
The Bhoys can only control their own performances and results but three points at home to St Johnstone would add a layer to Rangers’ Sunday task and ramp up the pressure.
Failure to do so at this stage of the season would see the title bid really hit the buffers and result in a major drainage of belief amongst the support.
It’s important that doesn’t happen before the two remaining huge derbies to come – a fixture that Celtic have proven this season they can get the job done in regardless of form.
While everyone would also take a 1-0 victory over the visiting Perth side, there’s the added hope that the Bhoys can win comfortably because – at this point – nobody can rule out goal difference being a big factor in the closing stages of the campaign.
This season hasn’t panned out the way anyone wanted to this point but there’s still time for this Celtic side to step up and show why they are the reigning champions.
That must be demonstrated today – then we’ll see in the coming weeks who is capable of landing knockout blows.
