KEITH JACKSON GOES INTO FULL MELTDOWN AS CELTIC REVIVAL CONTINUES
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 39 minutes ago
- 3 min read
How do most normal, uncompromised journalists react to seeing a side come from 2 goals down, and seemingly dead on their feet, to a 3-2 triumph with the last kick of the ball?
Well, usual reactions would, I think, include awe, bewilderment but usually some semblance of joy: Joy at the beauty and unpredictability of football, the chance to marvel at the way fate can conspire to make miracles happen on a football pitch over the course of an afternoon.
Somewhat predictably though, there is no such joy to be found in the scribblings of the Daily Record’s chief mudslinger Keith Jackson this morning.
Keith Jackson’s Bitterness and Spite on Full Show After Celtic Leave it Late Again
From his opening salvo that claims Rangers produced their “best game of the season” against Hearts yesterday (a game in which they also conceded two cheap goals and were outplayed for prolonged spells), it’s clear who Jackson wants to win the league. His annoyance at Celtic’s refusal to follow his script is also as clear as the boozy blotches on his face.
As Celtic closed the gap on Hearts to just 3 points, with a game in hand, Jackson’s take on it is somewhat bizarre. He said today: "Celtic remain clinging onto those maroon coattails even though the champions have rendered themselves seemingly unable to win matches within the space of 90 minutes.”
Erm, Keith, mate, have you ever heard of the concept of injury time? You are aware that even though the clock says 95 or 96 minutes, that is only because the game has been stopped during the course of play and that time needs to be made up at the end?
Of course, as much distain as I have for him as a writer, I highly doubt Mr. Jackson is stupid enough to not know how injury time works. He is though, quite happy to ignore it when it doesn’t suit his narrative.
The fact is Celtic have won their last 3 league games thanks to 3 late winners. It is a matter of undeniable fact. However, the conclusion that Jackson chooses to draw from these late shows of determination (something that I think we all agree is largely down to the influence of Martin O’Neill) is what I find to be, frankly idiotic.
Jackson asserts that Celtic’s late winners show they are “are surviving from week to week and game to game by the skin of their teeth”. He also maintains that its “highly improbable” Celtic will continue doing this for the remainder of the season. I don't know what's worse: that he gets paid to write this guff or that The Daily Record think such scrawlings are worthy of a "premium" paywall subscription.
That being said, in some small way, I actually agree with one of Jackson's points here.
Indeed, Celtic won’t keep doing this for the rest of the season. Here’s the fundamental difference: Celtic played as badly, if not worse in the first half against Kilmarnock yesterday than Rangers did against Motherwell in midweek. This result, with a goal from Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh also triggered the mother of all tantrums (pun fully intended) amongst the Rangers support, as covered earlier this week over on Born Celtic
Yet Celtic still emerged from Rugby Park with all 3 points, whereas Rangers, in the end, were lucky to take the one point they got from Fir Park. In a title battle, more often than not, it is the side who can consistently continue winning, even when form dips, that will ultimately emerge as champions.
Celtic still haven’t lost a league game under Martin O’Neill this season. Hearts are the only team he has failed to beat, and we all know why that happened.
Jackson and his ilk can have these wee tantrums all they want. In fact, I’d encourage them to keep it going. Their pain and their tears are fuel, and this fuel will, I believe, ultimately power Celtic towards the title.