After back to back wins at Celtic Park against the two Edinburgh sides Celtic travelled to Perth to face St Johnstone - and were brought crashing back down to earth in a post-christmas 1-0 defeat. With Rangers and Hearts both winning their own festive encounters, Celtic again slipped back down to third in the table, now 4 and 2 points behind Rangers and Hearts respectively.
But the new year would bring a swift change in fortune. The Edinburgh Derby on the first day of 1998 would see bottom of the table Hibs fight out a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle. The following day, Rangers arrived at Celtic Park eager to open up a 5 point lead for themselves at the top of the table. They were to leave dissappointed.
Celtic were fired up. Defeat was unthinkable. The game began cagily, with neither team on top. But by the time Half time came, still goalless, Celtic had the upper hand. Jansen's side would increasingly dominate the second half, with only Goram in the Rangers goal keeping his side in the game. Yet it took until the 66th minute for the deadlock to be broken - a beautiful reverse pass from Jackie McNamara giving Craig Burley a clear sight at goal from the edge of the Rangers box. Burley rifled the ball into the corner of the net, and all hell broke loose inside the stadium.
It would take until the 85th minute for the points to be secured, but the wait was worth it. The Rangers defence struggled to clear an awkward looping ball into their box and the ball fell into the path of Paul Lambert, who fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards. Celtic Park went into full party mode.
The result left Wim Jansen's men just one point behind Rangers once again, and saw them leapfrog Hearts back into 2nd place, albeit on goal difference. The psychological impact of the victory, however, was just as important as the points. For the first time since the Centenary season Celtic had came out on top in the New Year Old Firm fixture. 7 defeats and 2 draws had been endured since a Frank McAvennie double had set us on our way to the title in 1988. The Celtic fans hoped that this victory would set us on our way the the title a decade later.
But the new year would bring a swift change in fortune. The Edinburgh Derby on the first day of 1998 would see bottom of the table Hibs fight out a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle. The following day, Rangers arrived at Celtic Park eager to open up a 5 point lead for themselves at the top of the table. They were to leave dissappointed.
Celtic were fired up. Defeat was unthinkable. The game began cagily, with neither team on top. But by the time Half time came, still goalless, Celtic had the upper hand. Jansen's side would increasingly dominate the second half, with only Goram in the Rangers goal keeping his side in the game. Yet it took until the 66th minute for the deadlock to be broken - a beautiful reverse pass from Jackie McNamara giving Craig Burley a clear sight at goal from the edge of the Rangers box. Burley rifled the ball into the corner of the net, and all hell broke loose inside the stadium.
It would take until the 85th minute for the points to be secured, but the wait was worth it. The Rangers defence struggled to clear an awkward looping ball into their box and the ball fell into the path of Paul Lambert, who fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards. Celtic Park went into full party mode.
The result left Wim Jansen's men just one point behind Rangers once again, and saw them leapfrog Hearts back into 2nd place, albeit on goal difference. The psychological impact of the victory, however, was just as important as the points. For the first time since the Centenary season Celtic had came out on top in the New Year Old Firm fixture. 7 defeats and 2 draws had been endured since a Frank McAvennie double had set us on our way to the title in 1988. The Celtic fans hoped that this victory would set us on our way the the title a decade later.
