THE LAST time a team lost eight league games and won the title was back in 1935, four years before World War II.
Rangers were the team to rack up the losses before claiming the championship with 56 points, four ahead of Celtic, who were beaten ten times in a 38-game First Division, back in the sepia-coloured days when two points were awarded for a win.
Intriguingly, Hearts were third that season with 50 points. The Edinburgh club also lost on eight occasions, but drew ten to keep them out of the loop.
Ninety-one years have passed since that flag victory for the Ibrox club.
It’s time that situation was rectified, I think we can all agree.
Manager Willie Maley and all-time top goalscorer Jimmy McGrory had to accept runners-up badges in that bygone age, but Martin O’Neill and Callum McGregor are just two games away from going one better than the club legends.
THE BALL’S AT YOUR FEET, MARTIN…the Celtic interim boss displays his technique after the champions’ 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road earlier this month.
It’s quite remarkable that the champions have somehow worked themselves into this position after being on the receiving end against Dundee United twice, Hearts twice, Dundee, Hibs, Rangers and this evening’s opponents Motherwell.
That’s more than DOUBLE the total of losses over the past two league campaigns.
But, as the Govan club proved many moons ago, it can be done.
Make no mistake about it, though, Celtic will have to be at full throttle to achieve a fifth successive title. Total concentration is a prerequisite for anyone in green and white in North Lanarkshire tonight.
It wasn’t easy on the eye when the team was well and truly turned over at the same venue in the last game of 2025.
It was Wilfried Nancy’s third Premiership reverse in only five outings – nine precious points carelessly discarded – and the players on that occasion were as clueless as the new manager was witless.
Thankfully, the Frenchman was relieved of duties a few days later following yet another loss, this time in the derby after blowing a half-time advantage, and we could all sleep a little more easily and give the Valium a break.
The loss against Jens Berthel Askou’s admittedly impressive outfit was particularly hard to stomach as the visitors were serenaded by taunting home fans who universally agreed that it was “too f*****g easy” as they enjoyed watching their favourites outplay opponents on their way to their first home success over the Parkhead club since April 2013.
Alas, dear reader, although the raucous lullaby may have offended our senses, the celebrating chorists were bang on the money in their summation.
How I would love to see a boomerang effect on this occasion.
HANDS UP IF YOU’RE A SERIAL WINNER…Martin O’Neill acknowledges the Celtic fans.
You and I are only too aware that Celtic have failed to dominate teams for much of this crusade.
And we can expect Well to have a chunk of possession tonight. They are a slick passing outfit and we will have to endure more than a few nervy moments before the final shrill of John Beaton’s whistle.
That’s when we will have to tough it out. It’s never pretty, but it can get the job done. Just look at Hearts.
But this is all about the fortitude of the Celtic players.
Admirably, they have shown reserves of strength and character when they have been required during the five successive league confrontations to edge to within a point of the league leaders.
I don’t care what happens at Tynecastle this evening when John McGlynn’s side are the visitors. If Celtic win their next two games, a record 56th crown will be achieved and the flag will once again flutter in the breeze in the east end of Glasgow.
Martin O’Neill, as ever, will send out his latter-day gladiators with instructions not to fail.
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,” as a bloke called William Shakespeare once scribbled with his trusty quill.
Celtic are on the brink of something totally extraordinary.
And it CAN be done. History proves it.
ALEX GORDON
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