Having beaten Hearts in the league to close the gap on Rangers to 5 points, and having knocked Rangers out the cup, it seemed the dream was back on. But between the Cup game and the last Old Firm game of the season at Celtic Park lay a potentially damaging trip to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. As with so many other games under Tommy Burns' Celtic, when it came to the crunch we bottled it.
Celtic lost 2-0 to Kilmarnock on the Tuesday. And to rub salt into the already deep wounds, Rangers lost at home on the Wednesday to Dundee Utd. Had we won at Kilmarnock, a victory in that weekends Old Firm game would have seen us top. Instead, Rangers came to Celtic Park and took the points, and with it almost certainly, the league.
Celtic travelled to East End Park and played like a team who had conceded defeat. By half time they were 2-0 down - goals from Gerry Britton and Harry Curran giving the Pars their lead. But a second half fightback gave Celtic a share of the points. Phil O'Donnell pulls one back before Simon Donnelly grabs the equaliser.
And to sum up exactly how season 1996-97 went, while Celtic were dropping 2 points in this game, Rangers were losing again, this time to Kilmarnock. The gap was down to 7 points, but rose to 9 a fortnight later as Celtic were held to a draw by Raith. Rangers would lose twice more before the season finished, but Celtic were unable to capitalise and the league was lost on a frustrating Wednesday night - Rangers victorious at Tannadice, Celtic being held 0-0 at home to Kilmarnock.
Rangers completed their nine in a row, and again we wondered whether we would win the league in our lifetime
Celtic lost 2-0 to Kilmarnock on the Tuesday. And to rub salt into the already deep wounds, Rangers lost at home on the Wednesday to Dundee Utd. Had we won at Kilmarnock, a victory in that weekends Old Firm game would have seen us top. Instead, Rangers came to Celtic Park and took the points, and with it almost certainly, the league.
Celtic travelled to East End Park and played like a team who had conceded defeat. By half time they were 2-0 down - goals from Gerry Britton and Harry Curran giving the Pars their lead. But a second half fightback gave Celtic a share of the points. Phil O'Donnell pulls one back before Simon Donnelly grabs the equaliser.
And to sum up exactly how season 1996-97 went, while Celtic were dropping 2 points in this game, Rangers were losing again, this time to Kilmarnock. The gap was down to 7 points, but rose to 9 a fortnight later as Celtic were held to a draw by Raith. Rangers would lose twice more before the season finished, but Celtic were unable to capitalise and the league was lost on a frustrating Wednesday night - Rangers victorious at Tannadice, Celtic being held 0-0 at home to Kilmarnock.
Rangers completed their nine in a row, and again we wondered whether we would win the league in our lifetime
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