How important is tomorrow's result?

Been looking back at the opening derby fixtures (involving both Rangers) since 2000 and there's a very clear pattern.

The team that wins the first derby game of the season usually wins the league.

To put it into statistical format, there's a 71% league win rate after winning first derby of the season.

The exceptions to this were 2002/2003, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2007/2008 and 2011/2012.

2002/2003 is something of an outlier as the game ended in a draw. It's been the only draw in the opening derby game in the past 20 years. Incidentally, we ended up with the same points at the end of the season (97) so maybe the opening draw was a premonition

However, what's interesting about the last 3 occasions (2005/2006, 2007/2008 and 2011/2012) where the team who lost the opening derby but went onto win the league is that all three games were at Ibrox, the Huns were the winners of the fixture, but we were the evetual winners of the league. I don't know how to factor that into percentages but I suppose you could say even if we lose tomorrow by no means is it fatal for our league hopes.

But should we win, although it would only be three points, it does look very good for us from a stastical point of view.

For reference, here's how it's gone previously:

2000/2001: Celtic win opening derby (6-2, Parkhead) Celtic win league.

2001/2002: Celtic win opening derby (2-0, Bigotdome) Celtic win league.

2002/2003: Draw. N/A

2003/2004: Celtic win opening derby (1-0, Bigotdome) Celtic win league.

2004/2005: Celtic win opening derby (1-0, Parkhead) Huns win league. *

2005/2006: Huns win opening derby (3-1, Bigotdome) Celtic win league *

2006/2007: Celtic win opening derby (2-0, Parkhead) Celtic win league.

2007/2008: Huns win opening derby (3-0, Bigotdome) Celtic win league *

2008/2009: Huns win opening derby (4-2, Parkhead) Huns win league.

2009/2010: Huns win opening derby (2-1, Bigotdome) Huns win league.

2010/2011: Huns win opening derby (3-1, Parkhead) Huns win league.

2011/2012: Huns win opening derby (4-2, Bigotdome) Celtic win league *

Liquidation

2016/2017: Celtic win opening derby (5-1, Parkhead) Celtic win league.

2017/2018: Celtic win opening derby (2-0, Bigotdome) Celtic win league.

2018/2019: Celtic win opening derby (1-0, Parkhead) Celtic win league.

2019/2020: Celtic win opening derby (2-0, Bigotdome) Celtic win league.

2020/2021: Huns win opening covid derby, Huns win covid league.

 

Not that important,there will be more important games ahead.

 

I actually think itll be worse for the huns if they lose tomorrow tbh.

I think we have a clear vision with Ange, but we arent the finished product and the team is still getting used to his style of play. As the season progresses I think we'll continue to get better, but for now most, if not all, Celtic fans admit our defence is meh. A loss wont be the end of the world for us and I'd be certain we'd bounce back, not to mention it's at Ibrox with no away fans.

The huns have started the season really poorly, especially by the standards they set last year, they need a win to start gathering momentum, a loss at home to us would really hurt imo, and doubts would start to creep in for them.

TL;DR A loss isnt the end of the world for us, we would bounce back, whereas it would hurt the huns as they need the momentum after a poor start.

 

Isn't the most important against them or in our season but winning Ange's first fixture against them, away, after we couldn't beat them once last year, would be bigger for us..

Would set us up very well going for the title and add to the doubts already in their head's..

We already know we're on the right path..

 

It’s just 3 points, whatever our margin of victory we can all see the improvement Ange has and will continue to make

GAUN US

 

When is a game against the scum not important. I don't think it means we will win the league if we win but it will certainly put them and their manky hordes on the back foot. I think the win is more important for them than us at the minute, we are only a couple of months into a new reign and still need time to gel

 

We win and they will be rabid little rats.

The result is more important to the fans right now than it is to the clubs in the long term league view I'd say.

 

They are rattled as it is. Tomorrow could cause them to collapse.

 

Its important if ye wantto go in on Monday wae a smug af grinn .

 

If we don't win the players and manager shouldn't bother coming home imo

 

We aren’t meant to be where we are right now, we aren’t meant to be in a position to win it.

But we are, we’ve put ourselves in that position. Now people are expecting it.

 

I'd be disappointed not to take something from the game tomorrow. They're there for the taking.

 

Yeah even our own fans were * scared 2 months ago due to the state of the squad and management team , now they are * scared.
Winning is important because we haven't beaten them since the league Cup final almost 2 years ago.

 

It's vital.

We haven't beat these * in well over a year. We win, their arses collapse.

Simple.

We lose, we regroup.

 

Getting through to Europa League was more important- and that was a short distance race. One loss in the league, by itself, especially early on, does not guarantee ultimate failure- leagues are marathons. That being said, I do want us to draw tomorrow, at least.

 

One of the biggest games of the season.

 

It's very important to us fans and those who say otherwise are very different from me. I want to beat they feckers all day and every day and yes, it will make a difference. It will give our players a boost in morale and the knowledge that they can beat that mob which will, in return, give them confidence for the rest of the season

 

Massive for me, sets a marker for the rest of the season and will * rattle them to the core.

 

Heard that * all last season that it was just 3 points.