No harm in doing the math

It’s simple arithmetic, isn’t it?

There are ten league games left to play. Thirty points to be contested. It stands to reason, therefore, that league placings at the top, in the middle and down at the bottom of the table could be affected, for better or worse, between now and the end of the season.

The mere mention of this possibility is, however, the cause of extreme offence where some people are concerned. This attitude of mind is puzzling. What’s provocative about doing the math?

Celtic played in what was the biggest league match of the season so far when they went to Aberdeen on Sunday. They won it by wanting victory more than the home team did.

Brendan Rodgers’ side is due maximum credit for overcoming a handful of significant injuries and a still less than resolute defence while restoring their nine point advantage over Rangers.

The manager will know that a similarly robust performance will be necessary against Dundee at home on Wednesday night because the likeliehood is that Rangers will, on current form, have reduced the points differential to six once again after their game against St. Johnstone in Perth tomorrow.

What’s so upsetting about making that observation?

Celtic were magnificent against Zenit St. Petersburg in the first leg of their Europa League tie and then mediocre at best when they drew without scoring against St. Johnstone in their last home match in the league. These things happen.

Rangers have constructed what is beginning to look like a formidable side under the consistently admirable Graeme Murty. They have given the Premiership a sense of competitiveness. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?

They have two league games to play against Celtic before any prizes are handed out. If they lose the first one a week on Sunday then we are done here and Rodgers has led his team to a seventh successive title.

If they don’t lose then we have the potential for fun and games. That’s the essence of competition and what makes for an interesting flagship tournament. Unless you regard competition as being somehow inflammatory.

Scott Brown thrives on competition. He was man-handled, brutalised and targeted for outrageous abuse at Pittodrie on Sunday and yet he rose to the occasion with a jocular gesture towards the crowd that was magnificent in its barmy nature.

The look of bewilderment on the face of the Aberdeen sub, Sam Cosgrove, after he was sent off for a ludicrously dangerous tackle on the Celtic captain was, well, bewildering.

It was the look of a man saying to himself, “I didn’t know you weren’t allowed to tackle an opponent to the endangerment of his physical well-being.”

But Brown refused to give a petulant response. Instead he mocked his baiters in the Pittodrie crowd, and that’s why a hotel banqueting suite will reverberate to the sound of Scott being acclaimed by his adoring public when he attends his own testimonial dinner in Glasgow on Sunday night.

He has brought a competitive nature to ten years worth of service to Celtic, sometimes ill-advisedly on occasion but with an inspirational effect for the most part.

Of all the players who will be necessary to push Celtic over the finishing line in the championship, Brown is arguably the most important contributor.

There is no facsimile for the captain at Celtic Park, as was witnessed when his absence due to suspension and Celtic’s abject performance against St. Johnstone co-incided earlier this month.

Brown’s ability to survive the un-wanted intervention of crude lunges and his own need for personal discipline will be crucial to Celtic’s progress in the weeks ahead.

Celtic without him is unthinkable and how to fill the void when he eventually has to retire from the game should be exercising someone’s mind at the club.

In the meantime, Brown’s competitive juices are clearly in functioning order and that cold-eyed stare he has perfected will be what leads Celtic into the league and cup challenges that face them between now and the weekend.

He wouldn’t be the same player without that competitive edge of his. See, competition is a good thing.

The outstanding league title finishes that live on in the memory and have left an indelible mark on the mind are the ones that went right down to the wire. You’ll all have your own personal favourites and won’t need me to catalogue them.

Such a finale might not be on the cards this season, but the very idea of it happening shouldn’t provoke outrage.

On we go

• Hugh Keevins