Form and momentum crucial in lead up to derby
Former player and our Saturday columnist
THERE were some interesting matches this week in the cinch Premiership. I’m not a gambler but I do know some people who tend to bet on both teams to score in a number of games. It’s very rare that all six top-tier matches have both teams scoring but I’m pretty sure that it’s even more unusual for the six matches to provide an winning bet against both teams to score. However, that’s exactly what happened this week.
I only saw the two televised games involving Hibernian and Rangers and Celtic and Hearts and there were certainly numerous chances that could have been converted in both games.
This was especially so in the encounter at Celtic Park. The pressure was on Celtic to a degree because Rangers had picked up three points on Wednesday night in a hard-fought match at Easter Road. Celtic played very good attacking football and were the dominant team in the first half, although I do think they were fortunate to have their goal allowed as Kyogo looked clearly offside. The second half was very different as Hearts certainly came into it strongly and will be a bit disappointed that they didn’t take their chances.
It was a big result for Celtic as, being seven points behind Rangers going into the game, there would certainly be a degree of concern. The main thing for both sides of the Old Firm at the moment is to get results. The performances are a secondary issue when you are involved in crucial matches, but there’s no doubt that Celtic are putting in better attacking performances than Rangers. However, although the results were the same, Rangers’ win has to be considered the better as they were away from home and generally defended better than Celtic
did on Thursday. Another crucial factor that could potentially now play a part in the title race were the injuries sustained by Celtic in the match against Hearts. Three key players, Anthony Ralston, Jota and Stephen Welsh all went off and it will be interesting to see how serious their injuries are.
Of the three, I think the biggest loss would certainly be Jota as he’s been outstanding since joining on loan from Sporting Lisbon during the summer, and there isn’t an obvious replacement for him at the club. They will miss Welsh and Ralston, too, but they have players in the squad who can fill in for them during the very busy period Celtic have over the next few weeks.
If the gap is the same or even closer when Rangers and Celtic meet at Parkhead in January, then this will certainly be a massive match for both clubs. Celtic have an amazing home record currently as, despite the fact that I’ve been constantly critical regarding their defending, they haven’t lost a second-half home league goal since February. They are, nevertheless, vulnerable, but I still think it will only be when they’re playing against an in-form Premiership team that they could be beaten as they always look capable of creating enough chances to win regularly.
Rangers, on the other hand, don’t look as precise going forward and I’m sure this will be something for new manager
Giovanni van
Bronckhorst to consider in the coming weeks. He’s got three wins, out of three so far and they have four of their next five league matches at Ibrox. The defence has looked stronger and I think he’ll be considering what the best attacking set-up is going forward as preparation for the crucial derby match on January 2, 2022. He’s got three central strikers in Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and Fashion Sakala – and perhaps even four, if Jermain Defoe comes back into the reckoning.
What Van Bronckhorst will want is a serious contribution from Morelos and the striker will be under pressure if he doesn’t rediscover his goal scoring form. He missed a great chance against Hibs and Sakala has made it very clear that he feels his time has arrived, so he’ll be pressing for a regular spot.
AND ANOTHER THING
All credit to Queen’s Park, who are developing after becoming a professional club for the first time in their extended history. Their latest decision is to appoint a director of football and it’s very creditable that they have persuaded Marijn Beuker from AZ Alkmaar to join them.
The Hampden club’s CEO Leeann Dempster has certainly done her homework as the 37-yearold Dutchman is very highly regarded in his homeland. Alkmaar receive a lot of praise for their player development as they have consistently had the most number of players in the first team who have matured from their youth system. Beuker was in his role for 15 years and it will be interesting to see what he’ll achieve fin Glasgow.