THERE was never any chance of the current Celtic side emulating the Parkhead club’s historic European Cup triumph on the 50th anniversary of their 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in Lisbon this year.
Yet, Brendan Rodgers’s team has certainly gone a long towards honouring their fabled predecessors by matching the record 26 game undefeated domestic run which they went on back at the start of the 1966/67 season.
A streak of form that got underway with a 2-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle in the Ladbrokes Premiership back on August 7 continued last night with a nervous 1-0 victory over St. Johnstone.
It took a headed Dedryck Boyata goal at a Stuart Armstrong corner in the 73rd minute to break the deadlock and stave off the distinct possibility that they might suffer a defeat just when the record was within their grasp.
However, the Scottish champions, who moved 22 points clear of Rangers at the head of the top flight table with their latest triumph, can now set a new record if they overcome Hearts at home this Sunday The visitors certainly made life difficult for a Celtic side which showed one change after the William Hill Scottish Cup win over Albion Rovers on Sunday. Mikael Lustig dropped out through injury and Jozo Simunovic, who had replaced him at half-time at the weekend, started.
Nir Bitton, who retained his place in the Celtic line-up in the continued absence of Tom Rogic, dinked a free-kick just wide of Zander Clark’s left post in just the third minute. But it was arguably the keeper’s opposite number who was the busier of the two in the first half.
Steven Anderson shot narrowly wide of Craig Gordon’s goal at a Liam Craig corner just two minutes later and then had a chip palmed over the crossbar by the goalie shortly after that.
The home team responded well to those scares; Armstrong had an awkward dipping shot from outside the penalty box pushed over by Clark in the 19th minute and Boyata saw a powerful header nodded off the line by David Wotherspoon at a Scott Sinclair corner.
Clark palmed a goal-bound James Forrest shot post past his post in the 40th minute. But Celtic could have no complaints about not leading when they went in at half-time. St Johnstone had competed tenaciously.
Armstrong was thwarted once again by Clark on 63 minutes. That was the cue for Rodgers to remove Forrest and throw on Patrick Roberts in the hope the winger could engineer an opening that his side could capitalise on or score himself. His arrival on the fielded lifted those around him visibly.
Cristian Gamboa and Bitton both forced fine saves from Clark before Boyata rose well to meet an Armstrong corner and head home.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here