Title race is surely now an Old Firm face-off

Title race is surely now an Old Firm face-off


The race for the 2021/22 Cinch Premiership title is now well and truly a battle between Celtic and Rangers following Hearts’ recent defeats to both Glasgow giants.


The third wheel to the Old Firm in the last three seasons has changed hands from Kilmarnock to Motherwell and lastly Hibernian - demonstrating how competitive the league is below the biggest two clubs in Scotland.


Prior to recent seasons, though, it was Aberdeen who had the monopoly of “the best of the rest”. In fact, the Dons took full advantage of Rangers’ demise and Sevco's resurrection at the bottom of the professional pyramid, finishing runners-up four years in a row between 2014-15 and 2017-18.


They even kept Rangers in third place for the last two of those campaigns as the Ibrox club made their return to the top flight.


Pretenders to the Throne


This season, Robbie Neilson’s Hearts had designs on challenging the well-established Old Firm order and were looking good until recent slip-ups in crunch games against the top two.


Ahead of the visit to Parkhead on December 2nd Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou was at pains not to rule them out of the running, saying at the time: “Every game is a challenge. That’s where the priority is with me and if you start thinking you’re only involved in a two-horse race then there’s no doubt if it turns into a two-horse race then you will finish second.


Robbie Nielson's Hearts have fallen away from the chase (source: Edinburgh News)


“That’s because you’ve disregarded the rest of the field and I’m not going to do that and I haven’t done that. Let’s just keep our pistols in our holsters for a little while.


“I’m not going to disrespect any opponent and we’re not going to think any opponent is going to be any simpler a challenge for us to solve than any other. It’s the same three points and it’s all about putting those three points in the bank.”


As it turned out, Big Ange’s sensible approach paid off for his side with a hard-fought 1-0 win putting breathing space between the two clubs and denting Hearts’ challenge.


Then after bouncing back with a narrow 1-0 win at mid-table Livingston, the men from Tynecastle suffered another blow in their most recent outing last weekend - a 0-2 home reverse to league leaders Rangers which leaves the “best of the rest” now 15 points off top spot and 11 behind Celtic.


Midweek wins cement two-horse race


Both Old Firm sides recorded wins in their extra game in hand in midweek.


Whilst Rangers kept their position at the top of the pile with a comfortable 2-0 home win over rock-bottom St Johnstone, the Bhoys ensured they just about kept up the pace thanks to a dramatic 97th-minute winner at next-bottom Ross County.


The league leaders swept aside a dishevelled St Johnstone - taking the lead thanks to Alfredo Morelos’ header just before the end of a first half in which the visitors failed to register a single shot. Then Ryan Kent finished from Morelos' cross shortly after the break to seal a seventh straight league win.


Meanwhile, an under-strength injury-ravaged Celtic demonstrated their fighting spirit seemingly against the odds to rescue a late win in Dingwall against an in-form opponent unbeaten in five games.


Makeshift forward Liel Abada had earlier put Celtic ahead on 21 minutes with a simple finish from a left-sided cross by full-back Liam Scales’ who was making his first start for the club, only for Jack Baldwin to bundle home a corner to equalise for the home side midway through the second half after the visitors had missed a host of chances to double the lead.


Then after Bhoys defender Carl Starfelt was unfairly dismissed for two bookings - the first of which came for simply protesting being elbowed in the nose and drawing blood - it looked a tall order to keep the pressure on their title rivals.


But up stepped full-back Anthony Ralston to head in Tom Rogic’s cross for a stunning 97th-minute winner that sparked a celebratory pitch invasion from the travelling support and scenes of joyous euphoria in the away dugout.


Big Ange was delighted with the outcome, saying: “After putting in an enormous shift, we found a way to get a winner and I think it was just rewards for their efforts.


“I don’t think we were settling for anything. At the end we were trying to win the game which shows the spirit of the lads that with ten men they were not going to settle for one point. That’s not what we’re about, they wanted to win that game and they did it.”


Festive fixtures building up to derby day


With a four-point gap currently between the two teams, all eyes will be on what promises to be an enthralling Old Firm Derby at Parkhead on January 2nd.


It will be the second meeting of the campaign following Rangers’ 1-0 victory at Ibrox back in August, and Celtic will be seeking revenge to close the gap - or even usurp their rivals atop the league table to start the new calendar year in style.


Before then, though, both sides have three league games apiece to set their stall out and lay down their markers ahead of Derby Day II for the season.


With Ange’s men taking a short break from league action to target the first silverware of the Scottish season - taking on Hibernian in the League Cup final at Hampden Park on Sunday - the betting stats certainly favour Rangers to extend their lead to seven points when they entertain Dundee United.


Rangers have continued their strong form since Steven Gerrard’s departure to Aston Villa and are hugely odds-on favourites to maintain a 100% record under new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst this weekend.


Bhoys will be looking to avenge the early season loss at Ibrox (source: Glasgow Live)


Even the best odds for a home win are as low as 3/16 and 19/100 with some providers, whilst Celtic fans will be hoping a huge punt at odds of 19/1 on a shock away win for Dundee United can pay off in more ways than one.


Following the League Cup final Celtic’s three league fixtures should all see wins come their way - starting at St Mirren in their game in hand before a trip to bottom club St Johnstone and a home clash with their Cup final opponents Hibs, who are having a torrid time of it in the league currently.


With the best odds looking like 30/100 for a Bhoys victory in their first of the three league games it's fair to say Celtic are set to continue to keep applying the pressure on Rangers at the top. And although no odds are available yet on the New Year Derby, all the experts are only giving Rangers a slight edge when it comes to the title outright.


Things can all change if Celtic can * victory at Parkhead in the first game of 2022 - then it really will be all to play for during the second half of the campaign.