No Harm In Grafting At The Old Firm

Wouldn't it be great if Kilmarnock beat Celtic on Wednesday night and then Aberdeen defeated Dundee United at the weekend to reduce the gap between themselves and Ronny Deila's team at the top of the Premiership table to just two points?

Now that really would set up a nerve jangling end to the title race. To say nothing of giving treble chasing Celtic something else to think about before they take on Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden in the semi final of the Scottish Cup twenty four hours later.

And wouldn't it be something if Livingston could take the fight for Championship survival to Rangers and beat them on Wednesday, ensuring an even nervier end to the issue of who finishes where so far as play-off places are concerned.

That would separate the steadfast men from the palpitating boys, wouldn't it ?

There will now be a moment's silence while the joint batallions of Old Firm supporters prepare to rise to their feet in joint outrage, allow us all to see the veins protruding from their necks and shout out in crimson faced anger, "Naw, it widnae be great at all."

But that's the fun of it for the rest of us.

Celtic and Rangers fans don't care about an exciting, not to say blood curdling, finale to the season. They just want to see their team win and regard any other considerations, such as nail biting conclusions to two competitions, as being strictly the province of the thrill seekers with no attachment to either institution.

Nothing at all wrong with that, so long as they allow the teams they face and the fans who look on to revel in the prospect of a dramatic twist and turn along the way.

Kilmarnock could be sucked into the relegation dogfight if they lose at Celtic Park, and the consequences of dropping down a division don't bear thinking about at a club most recognisable for the empty seats on display whenever their matches are shown on television.

Livingston have battled against the deduction of five points for offences beyond the control of caretaker manager Mark Burchill but they now need to take full advantage of the games they have in hand if the third tier of Scottish football is to be avoided next season.

It's their shared duty to be as obstructive as they can be this midweek.

Livi were the better side when they drew with Rangers at Ibrox last month. If they get anything from this week's game against Stuart McCall's team then both ends of the Championship table will be enlivened in the process.

Kilmarnock have a sense of injustice about the goal that cost them points against Aberdeen on Sunday. Grieveance has to be their travelling companion when they go to Celtic Park.

No-one except the hopelessly argumentative would disagree that Scottish football would benefit greatly from Celtic and Rangers playing in the same division as soon as possible.

It would mean the automatic return of a sponsor bringing much needed cash into the game for a start.

But no-one said it should be made easy for the pair of them to resume the two horse race that was so abruptly interrupted by the external difficulties that took Rangers into administration and then liquidation.

If Ronny Deila wants the distinction of being spoken about in the same breath as Celtic legends like Jock Stein and Martin O'Neill by winning a domestic treble then surely it's only right that he's made to fight for his place in history.

And if Rangers' badge is worth fretting over then it's only right the players honour it by their performances on the park.

Getting it easy has gradually eaten into Celtic's attendances and the club needs to have a competitive edge to match the impressive surroundings they've fashioned in the East end of Glasgow.

Years of diminishing interest in watching Rangers play lower league opposition has resulted in the type of skeletal crowd that could be seen on television on Sunday night when the highlights of their comprehensive win over Raith Rovers were shown.

Bring back the Old Firm game. Quick.

Four lots of that kind of tension every season is preferable to what we have at present, with the historic rivals divorced from each other and forced into a loveless marriage with others in separate divisions.

But would it be so bad for them, and the rest of us, if the Old Firm were made to fight, bite and scratch for everything they get between now and the end of this season ?

When they erect the statue in honour of Billy McNeill outside Celtic Park it'll be in recognition of one man's valour as player, captain and manager.

The exact circumstances which prompted Rangers to immortalise John Greig in stone outside Ibrox.

The two men who epitomise Celtic and Rangers for a generation became legendary figures by the sweat of their brow and the bravery of their acts on the field.

They didn't ask to be handed anything on a plate, and they didn't mind being forced to strain every sinew to get what they achieved.

Last midweek, Celtic and Rangers faced Partick Thistle and Queen of the South respectively minus their captains, Scott Brown and Lee McCulloch, because both were suspended for indiscipline.

That wouldn't have happened back in the day either.

Behavioural patterns may have changed but welcoming competition, occasional upset and unpredictability should remain unaffected by the passage of time.

But it's the underdogs who have traditionally been required to provide one or the other. Or all three if they can manage it.

Even if it upsets the glory hunters along the way.