Car Crash Football

THE SPL title run-in will definitely be "car crash football": as in the way all the vehicles on say the east-bound carriageway of the M8 slow down to look across at a crash on the west-bound carriageway - you know you shouldn't really, but, you cannot help yourself - you simply have to have a look.

It's bubbling-up into another fascinating ending and maybe Neil Lennon, being something of a polymath might have the wee something which could give Celtic the edge. Neil, remember, is one of that rare band of footballers who has read a book and has some knowledge of the wider world. Should he dip into the poetry primer he is supposed to have in his West End bolt-hole, he might find the advice which could take the title back to Celtic Park. It's in the inspiring words of Rudyard Kipling's 'If' - that bit about facing those twin imposters, triumph and disaster and treating them both the same.

Poetry might soothe the fevered brow and believe me, as we get further into what Sir Alex Ferguson calls "squeaky bum time", cool heads and discipline will become ever more crucial. This season's race will go right to the end - and you know something, that will suit Rangers, since they have a history of edging home by a nose.

Leaving aside the recent "Helicopter Sundays", there have been several ocassions since World War II on which the title has been decided on the final day, with Rangers heavily involved. In 1949, Dundee took a one-point advantage at the top of the table into a trip to Falkirk; a draw would have won them the title, but, they collapsed to a 4-1 defeat; while Rangers were winning by the same score at Albion Rovers to win the title and Scotland's first Treble, by one point.

The following season, on the last day, leaders Rangers entertained Hibs, who were second, one point behind. This was a classic match-up between the Ibrox Iron Curtain defence and the Easter Road Famous Five forward line. The match finished all-square, Rangers retained the title and in the process demonstrated, by and large, defences win leagues.

In 1953, Hibs were going for a third straight league title, on April 25, while Rangers were drawing with Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, the Edinburgh team thrashed Third Lanark 7-1 at Easter Road: then four nights later, while Rangers were winning the cup-final replay 1-0, the Hibees beat Raith Rovers 4-1 to finish their season with 43 points from the 30 matches. Rangers still had to entertain Dundee, then travel to Queen of the South and, because of their superior goal average, at the very least win one and draw the other game. They did and took the title. Hibs might have scored 93 goals to Rangers' 80, but, the fact the Ibrox team conceded 39 goals to Hibs' 51 won them the league by 0.23 of a goal. Under present-day rules of goal difference, Hibs would have won by one goal.

At the start of March, 1957, Hearts had a ten-point lead over Rangers, who admittedly had three games-in-hand (two points for a win back then remember). In the run-in the Gorgie side won five, drew two and lost two of their nine games, Rangers won 11 and drew the other of their 12 matches to take the title by two points.

Again, in 1959, having finished a distant 13 points behind the Gorgie side the previous season, Rangers took advantage of a poor start to the season by their Edinburgh rivals and at the start of March, they had a seven-point advantage over the Jam Tarts. But although Hearts finished the stronger, Rangers had enough in the tank to limp over the line, still two points clear.

Two years later, Rangers had a four-point cushion on Kilmarnock at the end of February, with nine games left to play. Killie cranked up the pressure, even beating the 'Gers 2-1 on 1 April; and when Aberdeen beat the Glasgow team 6-1 at Pittodrie the following week, it was a seismic result. But Rangers still had the grit and determination to hold-on and take the flag.

Ancient history perhaps - but, as the Celtic fans sing: "If you know their history".

Celtic don't have such a concentrated history of being involved in last-day dramas. In 1980 Aberdeen came from a long way back to pip them by a point, while two years later, Dundee United finished the stronger to edge-out the Parkhead team. Then came the last-day miracle of 1986, before we get into those recent two-horse races.

So, Rangers have been involved in more tight finishes - Celtic tend to either have the league well-won at the start of the home straight, or be out of it by then, but, with squads changing so much these days, course and distance form isn't what it once was.

In defence of the much-maligned SPL split, it can have a bearing on the outcome of the title race. For instance, while there is only a point between the teams at the moment, and received wisdom is that, after drawing at Ibrox, the title is Celtic's to lose, with their game-in-hand against bottom six Inverness, Rangers fans might draw comfort from the fact that they've got ever-so-slightly the better record against the other top six sides so far this season: having won 10 and lost 2 of their 12 games to date against the top six clubs, excluding Celtic.

Celtic's record against the other four reads won 8, drawn 2, lost 2; so Rangers have taken 30 of 36 available points, or 83.3%, while Celtic have taken 26 of the available 36 points or 72.2%.

Assuming Celtic win at Inverness, and since they've only dropped two points to bottom six sides all season that looks highly-likely, they should go on and win the league. But if they draw or lose - the advantage swings Rangers' way.

Rangers, by generally playing first, can keep-up the mental pressure on Celtic, who will be playing catch-up until the final game. It's fascinating stuff.

I'd get that copy of 'If' out Lennie - this title is going to be won as much between the players' ears as on the park.