Martin O’Neill sets Celtic’s Ibrox benchmark

Martin O’Neill believes that a draw at Ibrox on Sunday will take Celtic one huge step closer to lifting the SPFL title. 

Since the turn of the year Ange Postecoglou’s side have taken 31 points from 11 matches to turn a six point deficit into a three point lead. Along the way Celtic have built up a goal difference advantage of 14 over their city rivals. 

With a fortnight to prepare for Sunday’s game the Celtic boss has been able to give the derby his full focus knowing that avoiding defeat will see his side go into the last six matches with a very clear lead. 

O’Neill spent five seasons at the coal-face of the Glasgow derby, looking forward to Sunday he told The Sun: 

The pressure is definitely on Rangers. They are unlikely to claw back the goal difference in the number of matches left, so it looks like a four-point difference. So really, Rangers have got to win this game. 

If Celtic come out of this match unscathed you’d have to say they really are in pole position. If Celtic go and win the game, which I’m sure is in Postecoglou’s mind, you’d have to think their position is very strong indeed. 

Celtic’s international players return to Lennoxtown on Friday as Postecoglou gets down to finalising his team although the formation, tactics and game plan are already well established.