BRENDAN RODGERS and his players are on the brink of a fourth successive title and events at Pittodrie in today’s noon kick-off could spark Celtic celebrations.
Following the champions’ runaway 5-1 success over Kilmarnock at Parkhead yesterday, the Hoops have a 16-point advantage over their nearest challengers from Ibrox at the Premiership pinnacle with only five games to play.
As well as their points supremacy, the pacesetters have struck 97 times for a plus-75 in goal difference – a massive FORTY-TWO more than the Govan side.
CHEERS…Daizen Maeda scores his 31st goal of the season with the second in the 5-1 rout of Kilmarnock – much to the joy of team-mates James Forrest and Adam Idah.
If the visitors fail to win in the north east this afternoon, the championship will remain in the Celtic Park trophy cabinet for the thirteenth time in 14 years and 55th crown in the club’s glorious history.
Only a seismic shift in the remaining five league games – with Rodgers’ men losing by a landslide in each game – could prevent the silverware being once again bedecked in green and white ribbons.
It’s a similar situation to just over a decade ago when Ronny Deila was on the cusp of his first flag in his first campaign as manager in season 2014/15.
Here’s how author Alex Gordon summed up the position in his Celtic tribute book ‘50 Flags Plus One‘.
PICK IT OUT…Scott Brown tucks the ball behind future team-mate Scott Bain as Celtic romp to a 5-0 triumph over Dundee on May 1 2015 – a day before they officially won their 46th title.
CELTIC were on the verge of their 46th championship and fourth in succession.
On a Friday evening on May 1 2015, the players had been given the opportunity of moving 11 points ahead of Aberdeen who were due to play Dundee United at Tannadice the following afternoon.
Mathematicians were not required. If Celtic beat Dundee and the Dons slipped up on Tayside, the championship would remain in the east end of Glasgow. Celtic concentrated on the job on hand.
They turned in a five-star performance with five goals to show for it in one of their finest 90 minutes of the campaign. It was a fitting extravaganza of skills and shooting power as the Dens Park side were wiped out.
Leigh Griffiths scored with a neat header beyond future team-mate Scott Bain on the half-hour mark and Scott Brown added a second shortly afterwards with a superb finish following a speedy, intricate sweeping move which shredded the opposition.
RONNY’S ROAR…Celtic boss Deila celebrates the team’s 5-0 win over Dundee a decade ago.
Kris Commons thumped in a penalty-kick in the 71st minute after right-back Darnell Fisher had been floored and James Forrest slid in a right-footed angled drive six minutes later.
With the contest coming to a conclusion, Nir Bitton illuminated a darkening sky with an exquisite 30-yard drive that cannoned in off Bain’s top left-hand upright.
Aberdeen lost 2-1 the following day and the title was officially the property of Celtic for another season, at least.
The Celtic team that enjoyed a five-goal romp was: Gordon; Ambrose (sub: Fisher 65), Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Bitton, Brown, Commons; Johansen (sub:Forrest 65 ), Griffiths (sub: Scepovic 75), Mackay-Steven.
