It was a dramatic day, at times traumatic but when the final whistle blew it was all smiles among the Celtic players and supporters.
For over a week we were told about the title challenge from Ibrox, Celtic’s lead was virtually down to three points before a ball had been kicked.
‘It’s the hope that kills them’ was the reassuring message among the hoops support but there were major concerns about the centre of the Celtic defence.
Those fears proved well founded but at every turn Celtic came up with the right answer- three points.
The team selection was spot on, Callum McGregor excelled standing in for Scot Sinclair with the midfield gelling perfectly to bring out the best- the goal threat- in Tom Rogic and Moussa Dembele.
Despite Willie Collum’s failure to apply the Laws of the Game, the constant shirt pulling and deliberate, late tackling Celtic held their discipline and stuck to their plan to zip the ball around with selective use of the long ball.
It all came together in the closing stages with Scott Bain, Jack Hendry and Odsonne Edouard excelling in their first experience of this fixture.
Onwards and upwards now for the hoops, the players and fans got a massive boost from the display. If that can be built on there are two more trophies ready to be claimed to make it another season to remember for the ‘vincibles’.
BROONY LEADS THE CELEBRATIONS
He’s the leader of the pack in every way whether it’s with the armband or pulling on a pair of shades. The legend grows and grows.
Ibrox, Pittodrie and Tynecastle bring out the best in the Celtic skipper with Sunday a masterclass in so many ways, from the pass to Moussa Dembele to score through to the tactical masterclass when Celtic went down to ten men.
He thrives in the most hostile of environments, some folk seem to be in a minor panic that he is now 32 years old but there is every indication that he can be just as influential for at least another three or four years.
GOOOOOOALS!
Three very different types of goal, all works of art in their own way.
Tom Rogic has a fantastic touch on the ball, it is effortless, graceful. When he gets a little space and a sight of goal you know what you are getting from the Australian.
Last season he made a speciality out of scoring against Aberdeen, this term Ibrox seems a favoured destination with goals at that venue the currency that Celtic players are judged in.
His late start in the professional game may have hindered his development but Rodgers has worked well on his game and created a matchwinner that Scottish teams don’t know how to handle.
THE BOSS
????? The manager, Brendan Rodgers, spoke to #CelticTV after another Glasgow Derby win at Ibrox. #RANCEL pic.twitter.com/AzbcA5SYTi
— Celtic TV (@CelticTV) March 11, 2018
He has taken Celtic to Ibrox four times, faced three different managers and mastered them all.
The challenges have changed, as has his team and tactics but domestically whatever the challenge faced Rodgers has an answer.
He may have some blind spots but when Jozo Simunovic was sent off a top footballing brain went to work, not a rookie on a development programme that is incapable of adapting without a power point.
His status had come under a little bit of question, ‘In Brendan we trust’ hadn’t been heard so often but with Celtic at their weakest, Sevco at their strongest and another party in the Broomloan there are no doubts about the vision of the Irishman.