CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan feels taking the title race to the wire would be a great achievement after his side's chances were written off a month ago.
The champions will keep their Clydesdale Bank Premier League defence alive if they beat Hibernian at home tomorrow. Rangers have the chance to close the gap to one point tomorrow against Dundee United and could go top with games in hand against Mothe
rwell and St Mirren.
But Celtic know they have the chance to set up a thrilling finale, when they face Dundee United and Rangers travel to Aberdeen on 22 May. That nail-biting finish looked unlikely when Celtic lost to Motherwell at the start of April to leave them six points adrift with two extra games played.
"We would like to win on Sunday – that would make the season go to the last game," Strachan said. "I think that is the most crucial thing. I sat two months ago and said 'with the position we are in just now, if we get to the last game of the season and it's still going, that would be great, because it would be good for everybody – apart from your nearest rivals, of course'.
"I just like to be involved in it. It's a different challenge from last year when we were miles ahead and kind of stumbled over the line. This time we are chasing and it's been different. It has been a new kind of management.
"But I think as you can see, we have relished the challenge, both as coaches and players. It's a bit different and I hope it goes right to the wire to get something exciting going."
Celtic will surpass their points total for last season if they beat Hibs but Strachan is sure that fact will be forgotten in the midst of a title race with their Glasgow rivals.
"Nothing is in perspective in this town," he said. "People talk without thinking, people talk without watching, people talk without knowledge. People talk with a bias, some people talk with a bitterness. Fortunately I'm not like that, I just get on with reality.
"During our sticky period of results we were playing terrific football. Everybody knew that, but it didn't make good copy. I have been proved right since then because our football has not been that great. It wasn't as good as some of the games we played against Aberdeen, Dundee United, Motherwell, but we have picked up wins.
"So it's all about results but we did keep believing that we could do this. It was good of the players to believe. Training has not changed, nothing has changed; putting the ball in the back of the net is the only thing that is different. People knew I was right."
Strachan was named manager of the month today after Celtic followed that home defeat by Motherwell with four SPL wins in April, including two wins over Rangers.
Celtic midfielder Barry Robson collected his second player of the month award this year after re-ignited their title challenge with a string of energetic displays.
The full article contains 523 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
