Winning under the weight of expectation

On the face of it, a league rival losing in the League Cup has little direct influence on our forthcoming Scottish Cup Final, but momentum is all and it is either with you or against you.  After a mere two wins, Celtic players may feel things have turned in their favour in the last week.

Winning under the weight of expectation is not easy.  Celtic are practiced at it, they know many of the pitfalls, while those who have won nothing grapple around in the desert.  While we imploded during the autumn, the script was written, I even heard a “They could have an invincible season” from someone who now knows better.

With Celtic eliminated from a domestic competition for the first time in over 4 years and Aberdeen also out, many expected this season’s League Cup would be Newco’s first trophy, a milestone that for some has taken on titanic significance.  Then they lost to St Mirren.

In his third season at Ibrox, Gerrard has won nothing and reached only one of five finals yet available.  He is grappling around in the desert, his players, fans and the rest of us know it.

I would ban every mention of the 2 January game, at Lennoxtown.  Take care of business and the landscape could look very different by then.