Celtic close in on title despite record inconsistency

Celtic are on the verge of reclaiming the Scottish Premiership crown in one of the most erratic title-chasing campaigns in modern Scottish football history.

Martin O’Neill’s side currently trail leaders Hearts by just a single point with two matches remaining. 

Victories against Motherwell and Hearts would secure the trophy and mark Celtic’s fifth consecutive league title, returning silverware to Celtic Park.

What sets this pursuit apart is Celtic’s unusually high number of defeats. The Hoops have already lost eight league games this season, falling to Dundee, Hearts (twice), Dundee United (twice), Hibernian, Motherwell, and Rangers. 

Despite these setbacks, a strong finish could still see them crowned champions.

Should Celtic prevail, they would equal a long-standing record set by Rangers in the 1934/35 season.

That Ibrox side claimed the title despite eight defeats in a 38-match campaign, finishing three points ahead of Celtic. 

Their losses came against Dundee, Clyde, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, St Johnstone, Hamilton Academical, and Queen’s Park.

Celtic themselves have previously won the league with an even greater number of defeats, though in a shorter season. 

In Billy McNeill’s debut campaign as manager in 1978/79, the club lifted the championship despite suffering nine losses across 36 fixtures. 

Those defeats were handed out by Hibernian (twice), Aberdeen, Dundee United (twice), Motherwell, Morton, Hearts, and Rangers.

That 1978/79 triumph was especially remarkable given a dreadful slump in October when Celtic lost four of five league matches. 

Under McNeill’s guidance, the team staged a stirring recovery to finish three points clear at the summit.

This season’s achievement, if completed, would further underline Celtic’s remarkable resilience. In an era of increasing competitiveness, overcoming eight defeats to claim the title would rank among the club’s most notable championship wins, echoing the grit of past successful campaigns.