THE 2-2 draw that Celtic recorded against Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Stadium last Wednesday night may well have brought their perfect domestic record in 2020 to an end.
Yet, the Parkhead club will still go into their fourth meeting of the season with Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday on the back of a 13 game unbeaten run in the William Hill Scottish Cup and Ladbrokes Premiership this year after their dismantling of St Mirren on Saturday.
What would their city rivals give to have enjoyed such impressive form since play resumed after the winter shutdown?
Neil Lennon’s men got back to winning ways at the weekend after their midweek aberration thanks to Leigh Griffiths’s first hat-trick in over four years, an Odsonne Edouard strike and a late Callum McGregor penalty.
So what did we learn from Celtic’s latest emphatic triumph? How are they looking ahead of the Rangers game? And where does this defeat leave relegation-threatened St Mirren?
Edouard and Griffiths go from strength to strength
One of the benefits of switching to a 3-5-2 formation back in January has been the increased threat that Celtic pose in the final third. Odsonne Edouard and Griffiths have struck up a potent partnership together in attack and the goals have rained in. They have plundered no fewer than 19 between them.
Edouard set up Griffiths for the opening goal at the weekend with a clever chip over the visitors’ defence. His team mate met the delivery with a first-time volley that eluded the clutches of Vaclav Hladky.
The three goals that he bagged mean he has now netted eight times in 13 appearances this year. He is guaranteed to be in the Scotland squad for the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel later this month when Steve Clarke announces it next week. On this sort of form, he could very well start.
But Griffiths can create opportunities as well as convert them. He supplied Edouard before the French forward netted early in the second-half to take his haul at club level this term to 28. This dynamic duo must be relishing the prospect of squaring up to a Rangers defence that hasn't exactly been watertight of late.
Christie should start at Ibrox
Lennon rewarded Tom Rogic for his injury-time equaliser against Livingston three days earlier with a place in his starting line-up. The Australian playmaker more than justified his inclusion. He worked hard during his time on the park, tested Hladky twice with long-range shots and played a neat one-two with Griffiths before the striker’s second.
Still, Rogic, who was replaced by Ryan Christie midway through the second-half, needs more game time to get back to his very best. At the moment, Christie is fitter, sharper and more dangerous. He should get the nod to face Rangers.
The 27-year-old has shone and scored in the Old Firm match on numerous occasions in the past and will be a good player for Lennon to have at his disposal on the bench in Govan.
The break will do Celtic good
The treble treble winners would much rather be playing in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday evening than having a rare midweek off. The late collapse and defeat to an ordinary Copenhagen team last month were painful. That said, having eight days without a competitive fixture at this stage in the season may be no bad thing.
Scott Brown and his team mates have played no fewer than 15 games in three competitions in the past seven weeks. There was nothing wrong with their energy levels at the weekend. Still, some down time in the coming days will not exactly go amiss. They certainly benefited from the winter break and came back refreshed and reinvigorated.
Elhamed comeback strengthens Lennon’s options
Celtic right back Hatem Elhamed received a lovely ovation from the home support when he replaced Kristoffer Ajer. The Israeli had been out with a groin injury since limping off in that historic win over Lazio in Rome back at the start of November and was warmly applauded on his return to the fray. He showed no ill-effects from his lengthy lay-off and won the late penalty that McGregor tucked away.
The defender, who slotted in on the right of the three man rearguard as Nir Bitton changed sides, was outstanding in the opening months of the season and became a first team regular. He has different strengths to Jeremie Frimpong, not least defensively, and his availability will allow Lennon to alter how his team sets up if required.
St Mirren are in a dogfight
Having not won in the East End of Glasgow since way back in 1990 or drawn there since 2007, St Mirren were hardly expected to take anything from the Celtic game on Saturday. But the heavy defeat, coupled with Hamilton’s win over Kilmarnock and Hearts’ draw with Motherwell, still worsened their predicament.
They are now just three points off bottom spot. Jim Goodwin’s men can do their chances of retaining their top flight status the power of good with a win over Daniel Stendel’s side in Paisley on Wednesday evening.
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