Celtic have secured 18/18 points in the SPFL since the January restart. It’s been a blistering start to 2022 for the bhoys and they find themselves top of the league by a single point after trailing by six in December.
When the fixtures below were discussed during the winter break, they were billed as a very tough ask for the Hoops. Trips to Tynecastle, Pittodrie, Fir Park and home ties against Hibs, Dundee Utd and The Rangers.
- Hibs (H) 2-0
- Hearts (A) 1-2
- Dundee Utd (H) 1-0
- The Rangers (H) 3-0
- Motherwell (A) 0-4
- Aberdeen (A) 2-3
Every one of these results tells a different story. Before a ball was kicked in January many would have been worried about Tynecastle and Pittodrie as difficult games and toppling The Rangers after a two-year lull in the fixture was at the forefront of peoples minds.
However, the most difficult game we encountered was probably the game many fans would’ve banked on being the easiest.
Dundee Utd at home was a moment, that if we manage to win the league, we’ll look back on as a massive turning point. Down to ten men with no time left on the clock and Celtic manage to grab a winner while their title rivals dropped points elsewhere.
My point? After getting past some really tough ties. Fans may believe a Dundee at home should just be a given. Points will be dropped in this title race when we least expect it – that goes for both clubs. We have to warn against complacency and make sure when there are games where maybe the fans are a little more subdued, we can still do the business.
I absolutely hate this cliche but every game is a cup final at this point. Every game has to be treated as massive. There are 12 games left and we’re in a position now, that at the start of the season looked very unlikely.
We have some respite from the SPFL in the next two games. A Scottish Cup tie followed by a Conference League game gives Celtic players a chance to keep the momentum going.
