TEN years ago a teenaged Stephen McManus turned up at Celtic Park expecting his favourite team to sweep to victory over St Johnstone and secure their first title win for a decade.
And that's exactly as it seemed to pan out, as Henrik Larsson and his team-mates secured a 3-0 triumph that is etched in the memories of Celtic fans.
Celtic will almost certainly win another title, with McManus as captain, if they beat Dundee U
nited at Tannadice tonight.
They hold a four-goal advantage at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League over Rangers, who face Aberdeen.
However, unlike his teenage self, he knows it is not as simple as turning up at Tannadice and winning.
"Just being a fan you think when the team play St Johnstone to win the league it would be easy," the 25-year-old said.
"It is not until you are in this situation you realise that these teams can be tough going.
"Dundee United are a very good side and it is going to be a very tough game. Everybody is expecting both teams to win their games but sometimes it doesn't work out like that.
"Pittodrie and Tannadice are two of the hardest places to go. I think it will be one of those times when you can go into the history books.
"It is times like these you really relish. We have a chance to win the league but it is important not to rule anything out."
While Celtic face a difficult match against a team who have not lost an SPL match at Tannadice since their Boxing Day defeat against the Hoops, the players also face the tough task of lifting themselves following the death of Tommy Burns.
The squad attended their first-team coach's funeral on Tuesday after his death from cancer at the age of 51. But McManus is determined to use Burns' memory as a factor to rally his troops together.
"It is about keeping composed and not allowing your emotions to get the better of you," McManus said.
"It has been a helluva week for everyone. It will probably add an extra 50 per cent motivation. In life you just have to deal with these things and that's the way it has been for us.
"The one person we can do it for is Tommy Burns and, even if that is a bit of cliche, that is what we will try to do."
Sean Dillon insists the controversy surrounding Dundee United's recent defeat to Rangers has made the Tannadice players even more determined to win tonight's clash.
The Tangerines felt they were robbed by a series of contentious decisions against the Gers by referee Mike McCurry, who failed to award them a certain penalty, chalked off a legitimate goal and also refused to red card Daniel Cousin for a blatant headbutt.
That provoked furious reactions from United boss Craig Levein and chairman Eddie Thompson, who lodged an official complaint with the SFA on Tuesday.
United have had to wait 12 days to pull their boots on again but, contrary to some of the crazy conspiracy theories which are being circulated, Dillon insists the Ibrox injustice has only served to heighten their desire to end the season on a high by beating Celtic.
The Irish right-back said: "We were not happy about what happened at Ibrox and we felt a sense of injustice so we're glad to have this game so we can get it out of our system.
"It has been a long time waiting for it to come around because of the season being extended.
"It's often hard to keep people focused when there's a long period between games but I can honestly say that the lads have been on their toes. We're well up for it, we have been buzzing in training and we just can't wait to play."
Dillon insists the title race is of no interest to his side.
"All the talk has been about what the game means to Celtic but we're not interested in that.
"If we get beaten and I have to go away for my summer holidays on Friday with that hanging over me I won't like it.
"The rest of the lads are the same, we're in it for ourselves and we want to win.
"It's going to be a full house and there is big interest in the game so it's the kind of occasion we want to be involved in.
"Last season we finished by playing Motherwell in a meaningless game on the final day but this season there's a lot at stake for both teams – I know what I'd rather."
The full article contains 788 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
