BRENDAN RODGERS bowed out of Celtic for a second time following back-to-back Premiership defeats.
The hammer fell on Wilfried Nancy following 33 days of catastrophe and calamity and six losses – four of them in the league – during his eight ruinous games in charge.
Six league encounters between the Irishman and the Frenchman and EIGHTEEN points from a possible 24 lamely surrendered is not a persuasive argument for any team claiming to have title aspirations.
If anything, a sequence like that would normally suggest a club that would do well to dodge the trapdoor leading to a demotion in status.
And yet, dear reader, here we are today with the very real opportunity of moving to within three points of the pinnacle in Celtic’s quest for a fifth successive crown.
HAND’S UP…Martin O’Neill acknowledges the Celtic supporters.
Mercifully, in between Rodgers and Nancy, a charismatic veteran team coach answered an SOS and won seven of his eight games in interim control, including all five of his outings in the championship.
After the appointment of Nancy had backfired so spectacularly and miserably, the same chap answered the call for a second time and has won three of his four matches while drawing the other.
Two of the victories could prove invaluable when we get around to totting up the points at the completion of a fairly bizarre season by any club’s standards. Thus far, his efforts have contributed a maximum 21 points to the team’s cause.
If Celtic beat Hearts at Tynecastle this afternoon they will have shown the mettle expected and demanded of any team adorned in green-and-white hoops.
And we will have a lot for which to thank Martin O’Neill.
Behind that engaging self-deprecating demeanour ticks a shrewd, vigilant and canny brain.
It’s easy to be sucked into the circle of bon homie affected by the 73-year-old son of Kilrae, but don’t be fooled by the blarney. That would be a costly error of judgement.
O’Neill will make tough decisions and stand by them. Luke McCowan, as you would expect, was desperate to play in Italy on Thursday evening. In fairness to the midfielder, he hasn’t done much wrong during the Irishman’s games spread over two periods.
However, the nearest the boyhood Hoops fan got to the action against Bologna was a place on the substitutes’ bench.
It would have been easy – maybe even understandable – to give McCowan a late run, but, with the clock ticking down, it was Paulo Bernardo to whom the manager turned to go on for the tiring Arne Engels as the visitors saw out a very credible 2-2 draw.
THE THINKER…Martin O’Neill meets the media.
And who could forget the sight of O’Neill waving his 10 men forward with about 15 minutes to go as he still urged his leg-weary players to chase down an unlikely winner?
This is a special fellow we are discussing. His very presence gives the place – and everyone within the environment – a genuine lift.
However, when all is said and done – and we’ve all heard the self-effacing comments along the lines of being Methusela’s elder brother – we are left with an individual with one very tangible characteristic.
Martin O’Neill is a winner.
And I have the feeling we will witness proof of that once more in the capital today.
ALEX GORDON
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Hearts v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
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