Celtic’s Four-Point Lead Looks Comfortable Until You Examine Rangers’ Fixtures And I Bet No-one Paying Attention To What’s Coming?

Celtic sit four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Eleven matches played, 28 points collected, and another title apparently moving steadily towards Paradise.

Everything’s fine, then?

Not so fast.

I’ve been looking at the fixtures Celtic and Rangers have faced during the opening round of league matches, and there’s something supporters really ought to be paying attention to.

Rangers have already visited Celtic Park, Pittodrie, Tynecastle, Tannadice and Dens Park.

That’s five awkward away fixtures completed before November.

They’ve also travelled to Falkirk, meaning six of their opening eleven league matches have been away from Ibrox.

Now compare that with Celtic.

The League Table Doesn’t Tell The Whole Story

Celtic have travelled to Kilmarnock, St Mirren, St Johnstone, Motherwell and Hibernian.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen, Hearts, Rangers and both Dundee clubs have all visited Celtic Park.

The contrast is striking.

I’m not suggesting Celtic haven’t faced difficult opponents. Nor am I pretending Rangers have been magnificent.

They haven’t, and their manager is overrated and way ahead of himself as to what role he thinks he plays in this league.

He is the serial bridesmaid.

But fixture difficulty matters, particularly when we’re discussing a title race that some supporters seem convinced Celtic already have under control.

Rangers have taken four points from their trips to Celtic Park and Tynecastle. They’ve won at Pittodrie and drawn at both Dundee grounds.

Those are fixtures Celtic must still negotiate away from home.

And suddenly that four-point advantage doesn’t look quite as reassuring.

Celtic’s Domestic Dominance Is Under Threat

I’ve warned repeatedly that Celtic’s European problems would eventually begin influencing their domestic performances.

Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Dundee United offered another uncomfortable reminder.

For too long, Celtic have enjoyed the luxury of being the strongest team in Scotland without consistently demonstrating the standards that should accompany that position.

Supporters have become accustomed to domestic success.

Unfortunately, there’s a danger that familiarity breeds complacency.

Winning league titles is not a birthright.

You cannot simply point towards the table, admire the cushion and assume everything will work itself out.

Celtic’s era of domestic dominance is under threat. Make no bones about it.

Who’s Actually Paying Attention?

What concerns me most is the willingness to take comfort from Rangers dropping points.

They drew at Hearts. Celtic drew at home against Dundee United.

Somehow, we’re supposed to consider that a satisfactory evening.

I don’t.

Rangers have already negotiated several grounds that Celtic still have ahead of them. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but ignoring it would be foolish.

The next phase of the season will demand considerably more from Celtic’s players, their mentality and their management.

Martin O’Neill must find consistency, authority and a recognisable identity before those difficult away fixtures start arriving.

Because the league table is only a snapshot.

The fixture list tells another story.

And if Celtic supporters aren’t paying attention to that story now, they might find themselves paying considerably more attention when the gap begins to disappear.