There's Many A Slip

AFTER yesterday's events at Ibrox, it is probably fair to say that Celtic are now favourites to win the SPL title. One point behind Rangers and with a game-in-hand, against a bottom six side - they ought to kick-on and wrap things up.

However, I have a feeling we could yet see another Helicopter Sunday. We tend to take it for granted that the Old Firm will, on the home straight, simply roll over the provincial clubs. This might once have been the case, but in these strained times, the greater quality and depth of squad of the Big Two cannot be taken for granted, surprises can and do occur and so narrow are the margins, only a fool or a fanatic of either persuasion would take the race as over.

Rangers do have that extra point in the bag and the knowledge that, this season, they have done marginally better than Celtic in games against the other four clubs in the top six.

Celtic have the greater squad depth, probably, after yesterday, the momentum is with them and one feels the greater desire. But, to ignore the pride in the other four clubs would be wrong. The run-in will be interesting and, even if it is always a two-horse race, since the split was introduced there have been some storming ends to seasons, with 2010/11 shaping up to be another.

ON THE face of it Neil Lennon's ear-cupping at the end of Sunday's game was merely a bit of fun. He gets incessant abuse from Ra Peepul and, since his side took more out of the game than Rangers did, he was quite within his rights to make his silent statement.

However, given the build-up and the disgraceful fact he has become a target (again) for the most-extreme residents of the fetid swamp of sectarian bigotry, maybe it wasn't the smartest move.

By all means let them know you don't give a toss about them, but, as my old rugby coach - an Imperial Grand Dragon in the black arts of front row play always drummed into us at school: the best response to abuse is (feigned) indifference.

Had Neil walked off, a smile on his face, staring straight ahead but not apparently seeing the massed ranks of his abusers, it would have sent a much more subtle message: "Do your worst, I'm not bothered by you".

Pause there - no, they wouldn't get that. Perhaps a brief, hands above the head, applause to his abusers, then off; his demeanour and bearing saying: "I'm better than you".

OK, he was not dealing with a lecture hall of students, but with some people who, even if only for 90 minutes on a match day, you perhaps wouldn't want to mix with, but, by his gesture, he descended to their level and to some appeared to be that worst of all people in sport - the bad winner.

Celtic didn't actually win the match, but they took more out of it.

I SPEND a lot of time nowadays doing historical research for various newspapers, trawling through newspaper archives and reading-up on days gone by. Last week, in the course of this, I discovered something I was hitherto unaware of. Did you know that the Scottish Football Association, that unreconstructed collection of Rangers' sympathisers/Celtic haters has actually, since its inception in 1873, had more presidents from Celtic than from Rangers. Yet it is apparently anti-Celtic.

MUSSELBURGH Athletic, who will face Auchinleck Talbot in the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup Final at Rugby Park next month are already getting their excuses in.

"It's no fair that we hae tae travel two hours, while they're only ten minutes down the road", they wail. Athletic are also forecasting they will bring up to 5000 fans to the game. Aye right.

If they bring 5000 fans to the game, I'll start supporting Cumnock. In fact, on the day, they're likely to have more neutrals from elsewhere in Ayrshire, attracted to Rugby Park more by their hatred of Talbot than love of Mussleburgh, than by travelling fans from East Lothian.

WELL done Arbroath, winning the SFL Irn-Bru Third Division title, their first trophy in over a century. We spend so much time these days following the Glasgow soap opera, we forget football is alive and well still in the small towns of Scotland.

WE ARE now getting into the awards season and while, as always, my friends in the media will be faced with the dilema: "do we give Walter a farewell gift, for making the title race last so long with that shite squad - and stick it right up that wee fudd Lennie in the process - or do we bite the bullet and give it to Lennie, acknowledging that doing the double has to get him the prize?"

I am not a member of the Lap Top Loyal, sorry Scottish Football Writers Association, so I cannot properly cast my vote for Barry Smith of Dundee. What he and his players have done, in the most-difficult of circumstances, has been brilliant - he deserves the prize.

STILL on managers, I will miss Ian McCall, now he has walked away from Partick Thistle. He was always good copy and a joy to deal with.

There is a history of co-operation between Thistle and Rangers. The likes of Davie Meiklejohn, WillieThornton and Scot Symon managed the Jags, while more than a few Rangers leg ends, such as goalkeepers George Niven and Billy Ritchie left Ibrox for Firhill. Of course, Ronnie McKinnon's twin brother Donnie was a long and faithful Firhill servant for more than two decades.

But, with Jackie McNamara making a good case for becoming McCall's permanent successor, Simon Donnelly teaching by example on the park and Gerry Britton doing I am told sterling work on youth development, there's a green tinge emerging at nearly everyone's second-favourite Scottish club.

I've made this point before and have no qualms about making it again. Why don't Celtic let those of their excellent Under-19 squad who are now too-old for that level of football and not quite ready to challenge for a first team place go to Firhill on-loan. Under McNamara, Donnelly and Britton three Celtic guys, they just might mature more quickly than as squad players at Parkhead.

Such a move would, I feel certain, benefit both Thistle and Celtic and show what I feel is the way ahead for Scottish football. An Under-23 squad, with the right sprinkling of experience, would I am sure do well in the First Division, while the Thistle fans would surely give the kids every backing.