The Derby and the run in

By: Ian Rose | March 28th, 2008

It’s that time again, time for the one Derby that really requires the capital D, the Old Firm Derby in Glasgow. Tomorrow marks the 378th time that Celtic have played Rangers in competitive matches, going back to 1888. Rangers hold the record in the series, with 150 wins to Celtic’s 135, but over the past decade, Celtic has begun to come back, and we may see in our lifetimes a dead-even Old Firm historical record, which would be pretty incredible. In league matches, Rangers have won 111 to Celtic’s 93. More importantly, Rangers have won the last three derbies, including one at Celtic Park, and it has been four without a win for Celtic.

The two enter this match in a situation that Celtic doesn’t see often in the league, a must-win. The Bhoys trail their hated cross-town rivals by three points, but Rangers have a game in hand, and with 12 wins in a row in the league, they have to be expected to take those three as well. So, it’s essentially a six-point lead for Rangers, a lead that the Bhoys in hoops will have to start eroding right about … now.

There are just four matches left until the split, when the top six in the SPL play each other once, and the bottom six play each other once as well. (That’s four for Celtic, five for Rangers). Two of these matches are derbies, this one at Ibrox and April 16th at Parkhead. Their run into the split is similar. The Bhoys have two matches with Rangers and two with Motherwell before the split, and though Motherwell have fallen off of their early season form, they are still a good side with the ability to take points. Rangers play Celtic twice and Dundee United once, before making up two matches later … no word on when.

As a side note, of the mysteriously injured players before Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Croatia this week, miraculous recoveries abound. Celtic’s Barry Robson looks to be fit for play for his club, while Rangers’ Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, Christian Dailly and Allan McGregor, who all missed their national duties, are all on the roster for their clubs. Ferguson and Dailly are both hurt, the other two are suspect … but it’s interesting that they value an Old Firm derby more than a match for their country. McGregor and Ferguson are important to the squad, and Lee McCulloch would be a nice option for George Burley to have … Dailly is just about done for Scotland anyway.

Tomorrow at this time, the SPL title race will either be blown wide open by a Celtic win, much more comfortable with a Rangers win, or in the same place as before with a draw. My money is on the last.