The Hoops need just a point to clinch four-in-a-row at Tannadice – but there’s an outside chance it could happen at Ibrox
Around 2,500 Celtic fans will be at Ibrox on Sunday May 4(Image: SNS Group)
Celtic fans are gearing up for a title party at Tannadice after the SPFL released the post-split fixtures.
Brendan Rodgers’ Treble-chasers will travel to Tayside on Saturday April 26 knowing they just have to avoid defeat to be crowned champions.
The champagne has been kept on ice a little longer than the Parkhead giants expected after shock defeats against Rangers and St Johnstone delayed the celebrations.
Celts were seconds away from toasting 55 on Sunday, only for Gers to mount an astonishing two-goal comeback at Pittodrie.
But the green-and-white faithful will now have the chance to celebrate four-in-a-row at Tannadice – if the runaway leaders get the job done.
However, should Dundee United spoil the party, then Celts could be forced to wait until the following weekend’s Old Firm showdown at Ibrox.
For that scenario to unfold, the Hoops would need to fall to defeat at United, with Rangers beating St Mirren in Paisley on the same day.
That would cut Celtic’s lead at the top to 12 points with 12 to play for, meaning the champions-elect would still mathematically not be over the line.
Celtic put five past Rangers to clinch the title in 2018(Image: Getty Images)
It’s a scenario that Police Scotland are keen to avoid due to safety concerns, with top dogs pointing to the mayhem that unfolded when Rangers clinched the title at Parkhead in 1999.
But it was only seven years ago that Celtic thumped Rangers 5-0 to clinch the championship in their own ground after the Hoops crashed to defeat at Easter Road the previous week.
Over 60,000 fans – including 7,000 Rangers supporters – flocked to see the April 2018 decider and just five were arrested for minor offences committed in and around the stadium.
Six years before, Gers denied their bitter rivals from wrestling back the title at Ibrox after Celtic fell to a 3-2 defeat – and the day passed without any significant trouble.
Now, there’s an outside chance that history could repeat itself next month as the SPFL and Police Scotland hold their breaths over a potential title-decider in Govan on Sunday May 4.
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