THERE was fury among the fire-and-brimstone brigade as they frantically looked out the fiery torches and pitchforks and prepared to descend on the east end of Glasgow.
It was exactly a year ago today.
And there was trouble in Paradise.
The Celtic fans were apoplectic with rage after witnessing a dull, dismal and uninspiring performance against Kilmarnock at Parkhead. On this day 12 months ago, the team had been stuttering through a fairly insipid showing and had been desperately clinging to their one-goal advantage, courtesy of Kyogo Furuhashi.
It looked as though they had done enough to stumble over the finishing line with three much-needed points as the drab contest trundled deep into stoppage-time.
It was at that late stage calamity visited Parkhead. Killie substitute Hugh Murray, taking note of the fact Alexandro Bernabei had hit the snooze button, pitched a ball over from the left to the back post where team-mate David Watson was left in bewildering isolation to send a header spiralling beyond the stranded Joe Hart.
Moments later, the shrill from the referee’s whistle brought the game to an unsatisfactory conclusion with two points carelessly discarded by a bunch of players toiling to come to grips with the challenges that were mounting up.
FLASHBACK…Brendan Rodgers acknowledges the Celtic support after the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie in February 2024.
The champions were on title thin ice and the stalemate against Derek McInnes’ team of journeymen was too much to bear for a contingent of the club’s followers. A workmanlike Ayrshire outfit had already dumped the holders from the League Cup at Rugby Park in August and had won 2-1 at the same venue just before the turn of the year.
Brendan Rodgers, in the first year of his comeback, prepared for a backlash. He wasn’t to be disappointed.
Twenty-four hours after the clumsy, clodhopping outing against Killie, the rumbles of discontentment became a full-blown avalanche of acrimony directed at everyone associated with the club from Dermot Desmond to Hoopy the Huddle Hound. Nobody was safe.
Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side, with the aid of two VAR-assisted penalty-kicks, overcame St Johnstone 3-0 at McDiarmid Park to remove Celtic from the Premiership pinnacle.
Callum McGregor and Co were forced to look up for the first time since February 2 2022, a memorable evening at a pulsating Parkhead when Ange Postecoglou’s side wiped the floor with the Govan club, then managed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, to the tune of 3-0 to leapfrog their city neighbours by a point.
A couple of years down the line, with the Hoops two points adrift and 12 games to play, the frolics had been replaced by frowns, the smiles obliterated by scowls.
People who should know better, folk whose opinion I actually respect, listen to and take on board, were already throwing in the towel. The league was blown, the flag was heading across Glasgow.
Really? Just like that?
I didn’t buy into any of the hoo-ha coming out of Govan. I said so often enough here, so I am not being wise after the event.
A MAN ALONE…Brendan Rodgers at the Celtic Park dug-out.
During that worrying time, though, it was no easy task to convince many Celtic fans that our team would respond, many of our players had been over this ground before while it was new and unchartered territory for most across the Clyde, including their pompous manager.
Brendan Rodgers stood up to be counted. In the midst of the carnage and criticism, with spleens being vented all over the place, the second time-around gaffer stoically offered: “I can totally get the reaction of the supporters.
“We’ll be doing everything we possibly can to get the team into a better place.
“I like a challenge. I have had to fight all my career and this is another great challenge.”
The words were an echo from the Irishman only a fortnight before the deadlock with Kilmarnock. On that occasion, Rodgers had seen Celtic draw 1-1 with Aberdeen at Pittodrie where only a stupendous late stop from the valiant Hart to thwart Graeme Shinnie prevented a defeat.
Clearly unimpressed by the team’s dealing into the January transfer window, the visiting supporters unfurled a banner which left no-one in any doubt about their feelings. The message was fairly succinct:
‘CELTIC BOARD – ON YOUR HEADS BE IT’
BANNER HEADLINES…Celtic fans get their message across.
They had witnessed a mere 26 minutes of Nicolas Kuhn, the £3million recruit from Rapid Vienna, in a Celtic shirt during his debut as a substitute for Luis Palma in another painful-on-the-eye performance as a first-minute strike from Alistair Johnston gave the team a 1-0 win over Ross County in Glasgow.
Adam Idah had yet to kick a ball for the team after his loan switch from Championship side Norwich City. Admittedly, on the face of it, not exactly two awe-inspiring captures for the tricky hurdles on the assault course that lay ahead.
Ironically, the German and the Republic of Ireland international striker were thrown on with the team trailing 1-0 and combined to conjure the equaliser for the pacy winger.
A clever photographer supplied some telling images as Rodgers led his team off the pitch. The Celtic boss is seen with his players heading for the tunnel. At a quick glance, it’s an unremarkable picture.
As a tabloid journalist for almost three decades at the nation’s two top-sellers at the time, the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, I fully realise the worth of a striking snapshot where it is crucial to get the balance between headlines, text and photographs to present a page to attract the reader.
HEADING FOR THE EXIT…Brendan Rodgers and his players at the end of the 1-1 draw at Pittodrie.
A SECOND LOOK…Brendan Rodgers below the sign that says it all.
Take a look at the images. By blowing up the second snap and focussing on the focal point, it leaves no doubt about the message. Rodgers and some of his players under a banner for The Samaritans. ‘We’re here to listen,’ it informs us.
On that occasion, the team chief said: “There are lots of games to go and we have to sort it out on the field.
“That is the reality of it. It’s my job as the manager to ensure we get to the levels we need consistently. The last couple of performances have not been to the level we want them to be.
“But that is for us to sort out.”
And I’m delighted to say, dear reader, Brendan Rodgers was as good as his word and his players, led by the inspirational Callum McGregor, responded to his encouragement. It’s a team effort, after all.
The third successive title, the twelfth flag in 13 years and the 54th crown in Celtic’s celebrated history was won by a margin of eight points.
The Scottish Cup joined the championship silverware in the trophy room following the 1-0 triumph over Clement’s Ibrox also-rans on the iconic date of May 25.
And that takes us today. The League Cup has returned home after the penalty-kick victory over Phil’s lot in mid-December, the team are 13 points ahead at the Premiership summit and a home Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibs is due next month.
Tomorrow night, Celtic, trailing 2-1, face Bayern Munich in the Champions League second leg play-off at the Allianz Arena.
The realist in me reckons the European adventure is about to reach its terminus.
But I should know better than to write off this Celtic team or manager, shouldn’t I?
ALEX GORDON
