Key events
It’s a chilly one degree at Celtic Park today although the ‘feels like’ thermometer symbol shows -3. Then again, in Ohio, where Wilfried Nancy previously managed Columbus Crew, it’s -7 (no higher than -3 all day) so he clearly moved to Glasgow for the weather.
Preamble
There’s nothing unusual about Celtic and Rangers being separated by just three points ahead of a New Year’s Old Firm derby. But it is far from the norm to see respective points tallies of 38 (Celtic) and 35 (Rangers) with 19 games gone. Those wobbles have allowed Hearts (41 points) to take charge at the top of the table and the leaders should bank another win when they host bottom club Livingston tomorrow.
Rangers fans will wonder how they’re in a title race after the woeful start under Russell Martin but the baton of despair has now been handed to Celtic’s supporters, who have watched the upturn under stand-in boss Martin O’Neill completely evaporate since the appointment of Wilfried Nancy. The Frenchman has suffered five defeats in his opening seven games – unthinkable at Celtic – and another loss here could be catostrophic.
Unusual times then although some things never change in an Old Firm fixture. Glasgow braces itself. Ex-pats all around the world don either green or blue. Kick-off at Celtic Park is 12.30pm GMT.
