Celtic’s point earned at Ibrox on Sunday sets the league title run-in up for an exciting end-of-season climax.
With only one point separating Brendan Rodgers and Rangers, albeit the Ibrox club have a game-in-hand, it’s all to play for with just six games remaining.
Celtic face St Mirren on Saturday before the top-six split and whilst those fixtures are yet to be announced, former Rangers manager, Michael Beale, has made a Celtic admission about the next Glasgow Derby.
Micheal Beale didn’t have the best of times against Celtic when he was the manager of Rangers. In six fixtures against the Hoops, Beale lost four, drew one and won just one. [Transfermarkt]
The one he was victorious in didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things as Ange Postecoglou already had the league title wrapped up.
Michael Beale says it’s advantage Celtic
But after watching Sunday’s draw at Ibrox, Beale admits that with the next Glasgow Derby being at Celtic Park, Brendan Rodgers now has a massive advantage.
Speaking on punditry duty with Sky Sports last night, Beale was asked by a colleague if he felt Celtic now have an advantage heading into the next derby.
The former Rangers gaffer said, “Well, you would say it would give the home team the advantage because there’s no away fans and that puts pressure on the refs.
“I have been worked 18-19 Old F*rm games and it’s only ever been 700 or nothing so the reality is the referee is under a lot of pressure.
“I’ve lived that in Brazil in the derbies as well. So next year, obviously with the fans going back in it’s great.
“I think it’s too hard to tell. I felt Rangers were a little bit emotional at the weekend with the ball first half because they had the fans behind them in such a big game and it helped Celtic look a little bit more composed.
“But let’s hope that they both bring the business to that game because I think it’d be a fantastic watch for everybody.
“It’s a huge derby and obviously there’s so much riding on it.”
Before we even start thinking about the next game against Rangers, Celtic must focus on what’s coming up next.
Because it’s pointless taking something from Ibrox and then dropping points on your next fixture and I am sure Rodgers will have his team fully focused on that.
All Celtic need to do is win their last six games of the season and the title is theirs and it all starts on Saturday against Stephen Robinson’s side.
