October 15, 2011

With Kilmarnock leading 3-0 after 72 minutes, it looked like this was going to be a seismic day for Celtic. It would turn out that way although not for the reasons that seemed most likely at that time. A fourth defeat in 10 league matches would likely have ended Celtic's championship aspirations and could also have led Neil Lennon to resign, the Celtic manager later admitting the thought had crossed his mind.

Instead he had James Forrest, Anthony Stokes and Charlie Mulgrew to thank for getting his team back on track. Forrest, Celtic's best performer on the day, started the comeback, winning the free-kick that Stokes curled beyond Anssi Jaakola. The Irishman then scored again, before Mulgrew turned in an equaliser. The road to redemption started out at Rugby Park.

November 6, 2011

Celtic, still third in the table at this stage, trailed Rangers by 15 points when they went to Fir Park to play second-placed Motherwell. Victory, then, was essential and it was ultimately achieved thanks to an inspired substitution by Lennon.

Stuart McCall's side were in sparkling form and Michael Higdon headed them into a 10th-minute lead, before Stokes equalised a few minutes later. The rest of the contest was fairly evenly-matched, both sides creating but passing up chances. Not for the first time, it would take the mercurial magic of Paddy McCourt to make the difference. Lennon summoned the midfielder from the bench after 77 minutes and just three minutes later he had waltzed into the Motherwell penalty box before presenting Gary Hooper with an easy chance. Motherwell's resistance was broken.

December 10, 2011

Fraser Forster has maybe not grabbed too many headlines this season – most of the action has tended to take place at the other end – but he had a pivotal role to play when Hearts travelled to Glasgow in early December. Celtic were gradually closing in on Rangers at the top of the table but Hearts had been the last team to beat them in the league and posed a considerable threat.

It was not a classic performance from the Parkhead side but they led going into the closing minutes through Victor Wanyama's long-range shot when the Kenyan was adjudged to have handled in the penalty box. It looked a harsh decision but Forster dug his team-mate out of a hole regardless, the Celtic goalkeeper diving to keep out Eggert Jonsson's spot-kick and ensure the victory.

December 28, 2011

Celtic made it nine wins in a row as they leapfrogged Rangers to finally clamber back to the top the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table. Winning the championship was finally in their own hands.

An element of good fortune surrounded the victory – referee Willie Collum failed to spot Lee Wallace's first-half header had crossed the line – but Celtic's dominance finally told when Joe Ledley headed past goalkeeper Allan McGregor early in the second half. It was not a classic encounter by any stretch but there was plenty to be admired in the way that a rejuvenated Celtic handled all that Rangers could throw at them.

The derby victory lifted Lennon's side two points clear going into the new year and they would go on to build on that slender lead early in 2012.

February 8, 2012

Celtic had plenty of reasons for not enjoying previous visits to Tynecastle so this win must have been hugely cathartic. Hearts supporters will point to the goal they should have been awarded earlier in the game – another blunder from referee Collum denied Stephen Elliot a legitimate goal – but such was Celtic's subsequent dominance there is every chance they would still have won had they gone behind.

Hearts rarely suffer heavy defeats at home but they were comprehensively outplayed here. Scott Brown put Celtic in front barely a minute after Collum's blunder and goals by Wanyama and Ledley before half-time made sure of the result. Hooper added a fourth after the break as Celtic celebrated a 16th successive victory in all domestic competitions. The league title by now was all but assured.