Celtic Fan View: Let's nail the title down against Rangers

Let’s be honest, even though Celtic failed to clinch their seventh successive league championship against Hibernian, very few fans are actually disappointed. In fact, the vast majority of the Hoops faithful would have been doing cartwheels in their living rooms as the Hibees secured a 2-1 win at Easter Road to delay the title celebrations. It’s a rare case where losing actually felt like winning.

Why’s that? Because the league can now be sewn up next week at Parkhead… against Rangers. Times are tough across the city and things could get a whole lot worse by next Sunday. After the Gers’ embarrassing showing in the Scottish Cup semi-final this could be the opportunity to hammer the final nail in their coffin.

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It also gives the Bhoys a chance to exorcise the demons from six years ago when fate handed them a chance to seal the title at Ibrox. They lost 3-2 that day but a number of fans still remember the disappointment. Like a once in a lifetime opportunity flashed before their eyes that they’ll never get back.

Winning the league by beating your fiercest rivals is so unique that it’s only natural that fans get excited at the prospect of witnessing it. You’d be hard pressed to find a sweeter feeling for a football supporter. You only have to ask Manchester City fans how they felt after passing up a similar opportunity earlier this month.

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Celtic have that chance yet again and will surely take advantage of it this time. With a home crowd in party mode expecting victory and the players fighting for a Scottish Cup final place they should have far too much for this Blues outfit. Add to that the fragility of Graeme Murty’s side and the lack of harmony among their ranks and it’s hard to come to the conclusion that they’ll spoil the party.

This could also get very ugly for Rangers if the Celts are in the mood to show no mercy. Even with a week to go the pattern has already been set; Celtic on the front foot playing at a super quick tempo and the Gers trying to contain and frustrate them. That game plan has worked for Murty in his previous visits to Parkhead but a motivated Hoops side in rampant form is unlikely to pass up this chance to make more history against their city rivals.

The pace, control and movement of Brendan Rodgers’ men in their own backyard should be enough to get the job done. Add to that their physical and mental superiority and you can only foresee one set of players turning up on the day. This should be a day Celtic fans will never forget.