4 April 2001, you would not believe the tension in the stadium when Dundee visited Celtic Park. Post-match, Martin O’Neill chastised us for being so edgy before a Johan Mjallby goal six minutes from time secured the points. Winning that game, meant Celtic could win the title at home to St Mirren a few days later, not with only a few thousand Celtic fans in attendance at the subsequent away game. What Martin didn’t appreciate, was that being there when the event happened was vital to the supporters. Winning leagues was something of a rarity for Celtic fans back then.
Tonight, many of us will feel that being there to see Martin O’Neill’s final game as Celtic manager is equally important. We will see the departure of not just a great manager, but one of a small band of people who are genuine Celtic royalty.
After Dundee’s deserved win over Celtic in October, they went on a four-game losing streak, scoring once and conceding nine goals to Falkirk, Hearts, Newco and Hibs. Whatever was wrong before Martin’s arrival, it had enormous consequences. Steven Pressley’s side arrested that decline by coming from behind to beat St Mirren 3-1 on Saturday. That elevated Dundee above the team from Paisley, who slipped into the relegation play-off spot.
The script is written for a statement Celtic win ahead of the visit of league leaders Hearts on Sunday. Martin, though, knows that scripts are not always followed. This is a game he will want to win as much as you and I wanted that result back in 2001.
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