Heart in mouth time for Celtic.​

As SPL Champions Celtic kick off their final league game of the season against Hearts this coming Sunday, fans of the Bhoys will reflect upon 287 days of nail-biting tension. Emotions on day one of the season ran strong, as Rosemary Burns hoisted the 2007/2008 SPL Champions Flag over Celtic Park during the pre-match festivities. Her husband, the late Tommy Burns, will never be forgotten as a player, a manager, or a human being. It was a fitting, yet tragic tribute to a man who gave so much to the Club he loved.

The late, great Tommy Burns.​

Celtic’s 1-0 victory that day – against a St Mirren that showed plenty in terms of ardour and ambition – was, in the end, fortunate. A Barry Robson penalty that squirmed underneath the helpless Mark Howard earned Gordon Strachan’s men a valuable three points. Nonetheless, the unconvincing manner of the win has been a familiar sight for much of the latter part of the season.

Within three further weeks of ensuing fixtures, Celtic had already dropped five SPL points – culminating in the 4-2 humiliation at the hands of Rangers back in August. However, a staggering twelve consecutive League wins swiftly put an end to any concerns, and saw Strachan’s Celtic open up a mighty seven point gap over the festive season. Striker Georgios Samaras was instrumental in the side’s excellent run, before succumbing to injury.

Samaras - Pivotal role at the start of the season.​

The calendar year of 2009, however, has been a story of relative woe and frustration. Many of us will be able to count at least fifteen SPL points thrown away through a combination of defensive frailties (a draw at Motherwell, and defeat to an Aberdeen side solely attributable to an inability to defend set pieces) and profligacy in front of goal – last week’s drab nil nil draw against a plucky Hibernian side, and defeat to Rangers being ideal examples of a concerning ineptitude with regards to hitting the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Amazingly, this vast point loss has not yet ended League aspirations for the Hoops. At home against a Heart of Midlothian that has comfortably finished third in the SPL this year, Celtic have the opportunity to end the season in style. Victory is essential, while at Tannadice, we must hope Craig Levein’s Dundee United side * at least a draw against the Gers.

Levein - with any luck, a similar smile come Sunday.​

With regards to injuries, captain Stephen McManus is of course out, having missed the tail-end of the season through injury. Shunsuke Nakamura has been playing through the pain barrier for some weeks now, but the medical staff at Celtic park are confident the Japanese International will be sufficiently fit for what may well be the magician's last professional appearance in a Celtic top. Additionally, it is hoped that midfield dynamo Scott Brown – this season’s SPL player of the year – will shake off the minor niggle he sustained at the weekend.

Brown has had a fantastic season, and his all-action displays have won him deserved accolades after last season's inconsistency.

For Hearts, top scorer Bruno Aguiar will have to be closely watched; with both the Old Firm supposedly courting the Portuguese ace, Aguiar will be keen to put in a good performance. Additionally, Ghanian Laryea Kingston is a talent who will undoubtedly pose a threat. However, wide man Andrew Driver looks set to miss out after suffering muscle damage to his back.

Andrew Driver - the talented Englishman misses out.​

A long season, that once again heads down to the wire. Last year, Celtic won their third consecutive title on the 22nd of May, thanks to a 1-0 victory over the Arabs. On that occasion, the oft-maligned Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was on target. This time around, Celtic and their fans will take any form of victory, while half an eye is kept on the scoreline at Tannadice.

Meanwhile, ahead of the weekend's encounters, Georgios Samaras's recent comments that Rangers "don't deserve" the title have met with a mixture of shock and realisation. Speaking yesterday, he stated that "we are a better team than them. It's our mistakes that would have let them win it. Last year we were seven points clear and won the title. Now it's the opposite, but if they are to win it, I don't think they deserve it."

Strong words indeed, and they will be sure to anger Rangers and their support. Whether Samaras's hope that the better team will prevail is still to be seen. Nonetheless, it is a hope that lives on for Celtic and their legion of loyal supporters.

DM.



TC Member's quotes ahead of this weekend:

WEEMAN7

"Win or lose the league, faithful through and through. I've got a feeling we will do it!"

JHIMBOAB:

"The main objective on Sunday is to score early, win our game. I felt a few weeks back that Rangers wouldn't win their last game at Tannadice, and I haven't seen anything to change my mind. The bigger concern is us beating Hearts. It's not over, I'm cautiously optimistic we'll get the rub of the green."

KEITH LEMON:

"There is a glimmer of hope that Rangers could lose or draw at Tannadice. Let's just get fully behind the team, the manager and the board as we push for 4-in-a-row. Celtic have a habit of doing things the hard way, and the fat lady hasn't sung yet!"

MINTY:

"I hope I'm wrong, I just don't see it going our way this time. I know that we have the ability to beat Hearts, it's just that my confidence in the team has taken a real battering this season."