It hasn’t been the greatest year for Scottish football. The national team is without a manager and the highly-documented financial mess at Rangers has left the game in crisis.
However an unexpected SPL title race is developing. Celtic might be as expected leading the way but Neil Lennon’s side are having to work harder than anticipated to hold on to a title, that everyone expected them to retain with something to spare.
They achieved a routine 4-0 away victory at Tynecastle on Wednesday night (players celebrating pictured) against a financially stricken Hearts side.
The result moved Lennon’s side one point clear of Hibernian and three ahead of Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a game in hand.
Shock recent home defeats to Inverness and Kilmarnock though, have plagued some doubt over Celtic’s title credentials.
So why is the Scottish league proving to be much closer than what anyone could have imagined?
Rangers no longer around
The demotion of Rangers to the Scottish Third Division in the summer was considered to be a massive blow for the SPL.
While it would give other clubs like Aberdeen and Motherwell the chance to finish in the top two, a dominant Celtic title defence was expected.
Some went on to say on Twitter that Lennon would have the easiest job in football this year and should lose his managerial post if they finished second.
Perhaps the Bhoys have underestimated some of their competitors in the division this season.
The home defeats of late have given the rest hope and shown that the Glasgow giants are vulnerable to mistakes.
They also threw away a two-goal lead to draw at Dundee United – something uncharacteristic for the club.
With Rangers no longer around, maybe Celtic have struggled in their absence and miss the enjoyment of the competition with their rivals from Ibrox.
While the SPL title race was completely boring for the neutral, the Old Firm derbies were always intense, pulsating and in recent times, brutal.
Unless there is a cup clash later in the season, there won’t be any of that this time around but what it has done is opened up the division, something that was badly needed for the fans of other clubs.
European focus
Of course without the Rangers effect, it might have allowed Lennon’s boys to enjoy and embrace the Champions League experience more.
The famous victory over Barcelona a few weeks ago at Parkhead is still fresh for the supporters and qualification out of the group stage is still likely.
The club have had plenty of European embarrassment of recent years. Not since the famous run to the UEFA Cup final in 2003 under Martin O’Neill have the fans really been hopeful about a European campaign.
There has been a greater focus on the Champions League by Celtic and the results have proven that.
They won in Moscow, which is never easy to achieve and matched Barcelona in the Nou Camp, ending up mightily unlucky to leave Spain with nothing.
They fully deserved their victory at Celtic Park over the Catalans, proving that sometimes miracles in football can come true.
Victory at home to Spartak Moscow next week will take the Bhoys through into the last 16 and considering the abject failure of Manchester City in Europe and Chelsea’s major struggle – it would be great to see another British side progress.
The focus on Europe is great but it might have been slightly detrimental to their form domestically so far.
A greater consistency
After the comfortable victory at Hearts on Wednesday night, Lennon called for his side to show they mean business in the SPL.
He said afterwards: “We played with great intensity and pace to our game.
“It’s a great win and puts a different sort of complexion on the table but let’s find that sort of form at home and we’ll take some stopping.”
It is true that away form in the league has been much better than home performances and results.
Better football has been played on the road by the club, perhaps there is less pressure than there is at Parkhead, where the expectant supporters probably reckon, that each side that visits the famous ground should be beaten comfortably.
Celtic face a Scottish Cup tie at the weekend against lowly Arbroath before the critical Champions League encounter with Spartak Moscow.
Although a familiar face is top of the table, Celtic have been made to work much harder in the SPL and that’s a good thing.
Whereas the leagues in Germany and Spain regarding a title race look as good as over, there could be more to come in this intriguing Scottish battle over the festive period.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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