Celtic are edging closer to reclaiming the Scottish Premiership title despite enduring one of the most inconsistent campaigns by a potential champion in modern history.
Martin O’Neill’s side now sit just one point behind leaders Hearts with only two matches remaining, and victories over Motherwell and Hearts would see the trophy return to Celtic Park for a fifth consecutive season.
What makes Celtic’s challenge particularly unusual is the number of league defeats they have accumulated during the season.
Celtic can win the league title despite EIGHT defeats
The Hoops have already been beaten eight times, suffering losses against Dundee, Hearts twice, Dundee United twice, Hibernian, Motherwell and theRangers.
If Celtic go on to finish top of the table, they would match a record that has stood since the 1934/35 campaign, when the Ibrox club became champions despite losing eight league fixtures in a 38-match season.
That Rangers side finished three points ahead of Celtic while recording defeats against Dundee, Clyde, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, St Johnstone, Hamilton Academical and Queen’s Park.
Last time Celtic lost eight and won the title was 1978/1979
Celtic have previously lifted the league title with an even higher defeat total, although that achievement came in a shorter campaign.
During Billy McNeill’s first season in charge in 1978/79, Celtic secured the championship despite losing nine matches across a 36-game season. Their defeats that year came against Hibernian twice, Aberdeen, Dundee United twice, Motherwell, Morton, Hearts and Rangers.
The turnaround under McNeill was particularly impressive given Celtic lost four out of five league matches during a difficult spell in October 1978 before recovering to eventually finish three points clear at the top of the table.
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