Celtic cruised to a 3-1 win at Kilmarnock yesterday.
Cruised after a dodgy start that is when Jozo Simunovic clumsily took down Eamonn Brophy in the box and the young striker duly converted from the spot.
Brophy was offside but truth be told Killie deserved the break having been denied a stonewaller in the opening minutes after that man Simunovic had handled from a corner.
You wondered if it might be a vital moment in the title race as Rangers had turned it around at McDiarmid Park against St. Johnstone but then Celtic clicked into gear and the men from Govan did their standard bottle job.
Kristofer Ajer smashed home an equaliser at close range after a cut-back from his central defensive partner Christopher Jullien just before the half-hour mark and five minutes later Odsonne Edouard scored his 26th goal of the season to make it 2-1 as he bundled the ball home at close range via the backside of Kirk Broadfoot after Simunovic headed back across goal.
Leigh Griffiths scored too to secure the points as he swept the ball into an empty net in a game that Celtic dominated and should have won by more with 30 shots on goal, 13 of which were on target.
The visitors Alan Power was rather harshly dismissed for two yellows just before the hour mark but it made little difference to the momentum of the game which was pretty much all Celtic.
After sustaining an injury on Thursday night, Scott Brown was left out and was joined by James Forrest and Jonny Hayes with Greg Taylor and Griffiths returning and Tom Rogic getting a rare start in midfield with the formation reverting to 3-5-2.
It really is working a treat a the moment with the link-up play between French Eddy and Griff in particular eye-catching and it’ll be interesting to see if Lenny goes with that on Thursday night which would be a big call.
Meanwhile, up in Perth Rangers loanee Florian Kamberi momentarily turned things around for his temporary employers with a goal and an assist for Joe Aribo after Callum Hendy had given the hosts an early lead.
But then Stevie May continued his recent resurgence in form and smashed home an equaliser with ten minutes to go and that was that.
Nikola Katic had a nightmare and was subsequently thrown under the bus post-match by his manager Stevie Gerrard who now insists he needs Swedish centre back Filip Helander back to arrest their decline in form.
Yeah. Sure he will.
The facts are that since returning from the break Celtic have won eight consecutive games scoring 25 goals and conceding only four in the process whilst the Rangers title challenge has seemingly evaporated after losing two and drawing two of their last eight with only ten goals scored and nine conceded.
We have a twelve-point gap now with ten games remaining, though they do still have a game in hand.
In theory, we’re going to have lose three and draw one at least of the final ten games whilst they’ll need to win all eleven of their’s to win it.
So a capitulation of almost Biblical proportions basically.
Yes, there are two Old Firm games left but on current form why would anyone in their right mind pick them over us?
The goals have dried up big time for Morelos, Defoe is crocked and ‘star man’ Ryan Kent looks completely devoid of confidence – zero assists in the league this season- whilst Conor Goldson at the back appears to have thrown the towel in completely.
Next up in the league they have Hamilton Accies at home next Wednesday evening which should be a gimme whilst we’re away at Livingston who are the only team to defeat us outside of Rangers domestically this term.
Get through that and another difficult away day at Hibs and then it’s off Ibrox.
So two huge away days for us but you have to be confident in our current form and I’ll preview both nearer the time.
In the meantime, Copenhagen at home beckons for us whilst they visit Brage on Wednesday night.
Loads of people seem to be giving the light blues a chance in Portugal which seems strange considering they were ripped apart almost at will by Braga at Ibrox last Thursday before producing a stunning comeback. But with home advantage and two away goals for me, it’s clearly the hosts that will be big favourites.
As for our own European game, I’ll provide a preview of that tomorrow.
....Always A Tim! 