Don’t we just love it when the ball hits the back of the Rangers net?
How good was Naka’s strike from 30 yards that had McGregor tied in knots, the elation of Jan Vennegoor’s of Hesselink’s injury-time winner, Barry Robson’s straight down the middle penalty, Andy Thom’s belter past ‘the goalie’, Paul McStay’s in the Centenery season, Henrik’s chip in the 6-2 game, Sutton’s opener, Sutton’s whitewash, Billy Stark’s centenery strike, John Collins predator efforts, Lubo’s double at Ibrox, Petrov’s diving header that came off both posts behind Klos, Maloney’s belter, Bobo frightening Klos into an own goal by smiling at him, Archdeacon’s bonkers goal, Murdo’s goals against Rangers (every one of them) big Roy silencing them at Ibrox in 77, Joe Craig’s winner in 76, Joe Miller’s cup final winner and add in unlikely scorer’s like Rudi Vata, Paul Byrne, Brian O’Neill, Paul McGugan, Andy Peyton and it’s all enough to get you all worked up for some more magic on Sunday.
We’ve been having a great time since the double win in April leading to the title, Kaunas and another Champions League campaign.
Until that double win in April it had been grim, four defeats without a single goal and of the team that started on April 16 only Aiden McGeady had experienced the joy of scoring against Rangers.
Now the players know what it’s like, the despair of losing at Ibrox, the league being almost written off before that double win that transformed everything and gave us a dressing room full of winners.
It’s not to be recommended but the hurt and pain, the fallout of losing makes players appreciate the wins over Rangers and the effect it creates on both winners and losers.
We’re back on top just now but have to capitalise on our 3-in-a-row status, to put doubt back in the Rangers players minds, remind them that Kaunas can’t be airbrushed away as we set the pace whilst also enjoying the Champions League.
Celtic are likely to be without last season’s first choice strikers in Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald but that presents Shaun Maloney and Georgios Samaras with the perfect opportunity to become hero’s.
It’ll be tight, nervous, probably controversial and likely to be nasty in places but after battling back last season Celtic have to keep the upper hand.
International football will soon be taking the spotlight but let’s hope that it’s against the backdrop of the 4-in-a-row bid being well under way