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Celtic’s late win over Kilmarnock was a tough blow to fans well beyond Rugby Park.
Over at Ibrox, Rangers and Hearts were preparing for a top-of-the-table clash under the impression that Martin O’Neill’s men were highly likely to be dropping points.
In the end, Julian Araujo’s winner secured Celtic’s third last-minute redemption in a row.
Hoops fans are under no false impressions: performances have to be improved. But in the middle of February, the title race is still young.
But you certainly wouldn’t get that impression from Keith Jackson’s response to the game.
The Celtic players certainly enjoyed that. Can the team continue to score late goals?
Keith Jackson’s response to Celtic win
Celtic sit three points behind Premiership leaders Hearts, with a game in hand on both them and Rangers.
Given Celtic’s recent history, you’d be brave to bet against them with 12 games remaining, including two Glasgow Derbies.
READ MORE: Brilliant Brazilian Celtic commentary surfaces of Julian Araujo winner vs Kilmarnock
Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images
Writing in the Daily Record, the chief writer put a hilariously negative spin on a man who is yet to lose a domestic match since returning to Celtic.
Jackson wrote: “Celtic remain clinging onto those maroon coattails even though the champions have rendered themselves seemingly unable to win matches within the space of 90 minutes.
“They are surviving from week to week and game to game by the skin of their teeth and on Sunday at Rugby Park they had to dig deep into their reserves of resilience all over again…
“To pinch all the points in the seventh minute of injury time, after falling two goals behind during a lamentably lacklustre opening 45 minutes.
“The powers of recovery Martin O’Neill’s players are relying upon are truly remarkable but the fact that they are being required so regularly points to the lack of quality which continues to undermine this creaking title defence.
“It was Julian Araujo who saved the day in the dying moments on Sunday and when the Mexican slammed home into the roof of Kilmarnock’s net it meant Celtic secured six points from back-to-back games against the bottom two teams in the division.
“With pretty much the last kick of the ball on both occasions. Of course, it is possible that they can go on like this, scrambling late wins all the way to the finishing line, but it’s highly improbable all the same.”
What is the biggest difference you have noticed in this Celtic side under Martin O’Neill?
Credit: Getty Images/Ian MacNicol This could be Martin O’Neill’s best title win for Celtic
It’s quite the statement given how excellent O’Neill’s Celtic sides of the early 2000s were, but for different reasons, this could be his best title win of them all.
If most clubs had the instability that Celtic have had this season, they would be happy to finish second – but O’Neill’s fantastic record has them bang in the race.
Understandably, the Hoops boss has insisted that his team are still focused on chasing, with performances in need of improvement.
But media dismissals like Jackson’s only fuel the fire for a decisive title run-in.
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