PRIDE was the only thing Celtic had to play for when they visited Ibrox on May 2 last year.
It’s entirely different this time around when Ange Postecoglou and his players cross Glasgow for Sunday’s midday confrontation.
Last season, the bid for a historic tenth successive title was blown in January after a spectacular fall from grace that saw manager Neil Lennon depart and the squad hurtle towards a much-needed summer upheaval.
Of the line-up that kicked off that afternoon in Govan, five – Scott Brown, Kristoffer Ajer, Odsonne Edouard, Jonjoe Kenny and Mohamed Elyounoussi – are no longer at the club while another, substitute Ryan Christie, has also exited.
SEEING RED…Callum McGregor is banished by referee Nick Walsh in the 4-1 loss at Ibrox in May last year.
Among the unused substitutes were Leigh Griffiths and Diego Laxalt who have also moved on during 11 months of frantic activity in the transfer market with Postecoglou introducing SEVENTEEN players since his June arrival as Lennon’s long-term successor.
Of the team that started, only two, skipper Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor, look certainties to play and there may also be places for James Forrest and David Turnbull.
It’s in the history books now that the visitors were turned over 4-1, but there is always a story behind a scoreline – and that is certainly the case in this one, as CQN’s match report testifies.
So, it’s all-change on this occasion as Celtic arrive in the knowledge a victory will leave them six points ahead with six games to play, one of them at Parkhead.
Here is the team from 11 months ago: Bain; Kenny, Welsh, Ajer, Taylor; Brown (sub: Soro 60), McGregor; Forrest (sub: Christie 60), Turnbull, Elyounoussi, Edouard (sub: Johnston 75). Unused subs: Barkas, Bitton, Griffiths, Ajeti, Ralston, Laxalt.
