Seven years ago Celtic’s title challenge was hanging by a thread, Neil Lennon’s prospects were even bleaker when the hoops trailed 3-0 to Kilmarnock at half time.
Starting his second season in charge of the club Celtic were toiling to build on the 2011 Scottish Cup success over Motherwell as the Ally McCoist bandwagon kicked on without the distraction of European football.
It looked to be the end of the road for Lennon as he made his way to the dressing room at Rugby Park after 45 minutes in which all of his side’s weaknesses had been exposed.
On this day in 2011, Celtic come from 3-0 down at half time to draw 3-3 with Kilmarnock. Stokes scores a double, with Mulgrew grabbing the other. Saved Lennon’s job. Celtic then went on a 17 game winning streak to win the league. pic.twitter.com/QsJyvjkOim
— CelticLisboa (@CelticLisboaa) October 14, 2018
Kilmarnock could have gone further ahead but in the 73 and 76th minutes Anthony Stokes scored and the Celtic support picked up on the fight being shown on the park.
Stokes, James Forrest and Charlie Mulgrew went the extra mile that day, Mulgrew equalised, Lennon survived and by New Years Day Celtic had turned around a 15 point deficit to sit at the top of the table.
Since then Celtic haven’t looked back, Ronny Deila took over from Lennon then passed the baton on to Brendan Rodgers.
Rangers ended up in the morgue, Ally McCoist and Craig Whyte moved on in different directions- Celtic steamrollered their way to seven titles and look good for an eighth.
Had Celtic failed to recover at Kilmarnock seven years ago today Scottish football may have ended up looking very different to the way things are today.
When Lennon returned to Rugby Park later in the season it was to be crowned as champion in another six goal thriller which made for much more pleasant viewing.
CELTIC: Forster; Cha Du Ri (El Kaddouri 68), Majstorovic, Mulgrew, Matthews; Ki, Kayal (Wanyama 46), Ledley; Forrest, Hooper (Bangura 46), Stokes