‘Conductor’ McInnes hasn’t found his ‘swagger’, he has Don Robertson and Steven McLean to thank for his latest victory. Celtic are his biggest test yet…

Well, it looks like Derek McInnes is actually starting to find some form with his over-bloated Ibrox squad.

It’s the same kind of form that took him all the way to the last day of last season, where almost pipped Celtic to the post.

Four one goal wins in a row, and the media are now starting to salivate about the prospect of the Ibrox side being Champions come next May.

It never takes much, does it?

Wait for it, because on Sunday morning, Hugh Keevins will most likely predict that they’ll win the League and that Celtic are in for a hiding at Ibrox that afternoon.

Am I brimming with confidence going into Sunday?

Would I say that Martin O’Neill has found his swagger off the back of six straight League wins for Celtic?

Nope.

I’m not getting carried away, although I should have more reason to than Graeme Young in the Record, who is waffling on Derek McInnes swaggering about, and conducting Penny Arcade.

Only this kind of praise is reserved for Ibrox managers.

As for me?

I’m cautiously optimistic about this one.

And I’ll tell you why.

We’re the form team in the League, and we’re undefeated domestically so far.

Of all the opposition Derek McInnes has faced this season so far, we will be the ultimate test for him.

The benchmark.

Followed closely by Wouter Vrancken’s Hearts.

As I highlighted last week, his side could be top of the Scottish Premiership by next Saturday evening, so they need to be taken seriously too.

Funnily enough, the media has very little to say about them.

The gushing praise for Del Boy is starting to flow, and it’s up to Celtic to stop it from reaching a crescendo on Sunday.

But let’s be straight about something here.

Because this is something the media will conveniently ignore, despite the fact enough was highlighted about it on Wednesday evening, and yesterday.

The Ibrox side are second in the League courtesy of Don Robertson, and their trusted Ibrox fan, Steven McLean, brother of former Ibrox player, Brian McLean.

There is more than enough evidence to suggest that the outcome of the tie against St. Mirren could have been totally different had decisions gone the Paisley side’s way.

The Ibrozx side should have been down to 10 men, and possibly a goal down as a result of a penalty before injury time ever came about.

How Steven McLean did not review either decision in the VAR room, is beyond me.

Heading into Sunday, I’m not worried about us.

No, I know we’ll create plenty of chances.

I don’t doubt that in the slightest.

The on-field referee, Nick Walsh, is the best of a bad lot, and if I’m being honest, I’m okay with him being the man in the middle.

It’s the guy in the VAR room I’m more worried about.

Now, many people will say that Andrew Dallas handed us the title last season by calling John Beaton to the monitor in injury time at Fir Park.

But I think we can all rest assured in the knowledge that Dallas is in no way a Celtic leaning referee.

Instinct tells me he might feel he has a debt to pay after that decision last season.

And that he feels that said debt might fall due at Ibrox on Sunday.

As is always the case for any Celtic side travelling to a partisan Ibrox, with no away support at all, the referees are the biggest concern.

As for Derek McInnes and his new found swagger?

We’ll see just how good he really is come 2 o’clock on Sunday afternoon.

In fact, we’ll see by 2 o’clock on Sunday week if he’s the real Ibrox deal, or not.

I’ll reserve judgment until then, unlike the media.

Who seem to be beside themselves at the moment, and clamouring to give him praise.

I’ll wait.

The next two weekends will tell us an awful lot about where this season is headed.

So let’s see how they pan out.

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