Chris Sutton believes that the turning point in this season’s title race didn’t take place on the pitch.
Various matches have been suggested as the stage when Celtic took control with the 3-0 Glasgow Derby at the start of February the most obvious. Without it there would have been no midweek parties with Saturday afternoon promising to be a memorable one around Celtic Park.
Last gasp winners away to Ross County in December and at home to Dundee United have strong merit as does the 2-1 win at Aberdeen at the start of October as Ange Postecoglou’s side picked up their first away points of the season.
Winning at Livingston in March was also significant as that ghost was laid to rest but Sutton believes that the transfer business conducted at the end of August led to the delivery of this season’s SPFL Premiership title.
In today’s Daily Record, recalling the first Glasgow Derby of the season at Ibrox Sutton explains:
Celtic ended up losing that day – but it marked a turning point. Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie left within 48 hours and Postecoglou defined the season by getting hold of Jota, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
It couldn’t happen immediately. Four points were shipped to Livingston and Dundee United before September was over but you could sense something was happening when Jota hit his late winner against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Postecoglou’s team really started to fire from there. They built wins and momentum.
The January window certainly impacted the title race but without Carter-Vickers, Jota and Giakoumakis Stage 1 of Postecoglou’s turnaround would still be a work in motion.
