THE anticipation was building for weeks in Glasgow ahead of the competitive football returning on Monday night.
Rangers opened their campaign on Friday evening with Derek McInnes looking exquisitely staunch in his brown brogues and navy suit. All that was missing was the Loving Cup being passed around pre-match.
The usual dropped points on the opening weekend left Gers fans booing their former player as he fist-pumped his way to the tunnel to celebrate avoiding defeat at Tannadice. And after having once again lost the rag with officials – this time over a last-second disputed corner. How will Del react when the pressure really comes on?
Saturday saw Hearts in action and for 89 minutes it looked like they would get their bid for another memorable season off to a flier, but a late rally by Aberdeen at Pittodrie left the gate wide open for Celtic to open an early gap on their two main rivals. And so Monday evening's flag match was brimming with anticipation.
The hope was that two new forward signings would be roared on by the four corners of Parkhead and swashbuckling attacking play would dispel the memory from last season of those long spells of dross.
The team was marginally better than it was for most of last season and the return of Cameron Carter-Vickers proved almost like a new signing, with the US international returning from an achilles tear sustained in last season’s European tie with Sturm Graz.
Carter-Vickers showed he's well on track to get back to his resilient best, marshalling the defence and clearing and blocking with assured ease.
It was great to see the big man back, especially after Martin O’Neill confirmed that the centre back area of the squad is “not being explored” during the current transfer window.
That would suggest that other areas are being explored, but not that much else seems to be ongoing, to be honest, with 14 departures and only two new faces to come in the door since the summer window opened.
Judgment must be reserved on new striker Kasper Høgh, who worked himself into some dangerous positions but failed to bother the scoreboard. The Dane says he's working to adjust to grass, having played most of his football lately on plastic for Bodö/Glimt.
It just wasn't his night, although seeing a target man actually hold up possession and get into the danger zone was hugely encouraging. If he plays that game again he scores two or three, in my opinion.
Out on the right Camilo Duran showed glimpses of real promise at times but the overarching feeling was that the Colombian forward was being played out of position. The problem for O'Neill is that Høgh is only ever going to play up the middle, which means that a productive spot will have to be found for the clearly talented Duran. Whether it's worth persisting with him on the right, or whether he'll be better suited to a No.10-style slightly withdrawn role, only time and the gaffer will tell.
After spurning a decent chance early doors after a goalmouth scramble, Dundee rarely threatened and what forward thrusts they made were competently dealt with. But they succeeded in their primary aim of limiting Celtic's chances and as the teams trooped off at half-time a familiar sense of disappointment was creeping over the stadium. A second-half combination of an early goal and Dundee tiredness saw the Hoops assert real dominance. And that key 52nd minute strike came via an oh-so familiar route.
Many Celtic fans will for some reason tell you that Kieran Tierney has been a disappointment since his return, but his attacking and assist stats for last season speak for themselves. His peach of a cross from the left found man-of-the-match Benjamin Nygren – who else? – in space on the six-yard line and the Swede's deft header into the bottom right corner brought a roar of delight – and relief.
But for all their possession and dominance, Celtic failed to put the visitors away and the final whistle was music to the ears of both fans and bench as Celtic retreated to defend their narrow lead and Dundee pressed for an equaliser.
We’re off the mark, and that's great, but honestly I am bored with the constant fear that seeps in when Celtic’s Champions League play-off looms early-season and we're again looking at seeing square pegs put in round holes.
The Hoops have been drawn home-leg-first against Austrian Champions Lask Linz, with the glittering prize of Champions League football at stake.
The horror show against Almaty last season still stings, and the bad news is that this year we're faced with a much more accomplished and challenging opponent. It's not Barcelona or Real Madrid that we are talking about here, but Lask are no mugs and will put it up to Celtic with technical ability, physical presence and good organisation. The match in two weeks' time will be a challenge even if Celtic manage to strengthen in key areas. If there's no movement, well... I don't have to draw a picture for the long-suffering fans.
Years of Celtic trying to bluff their way past this play-off round into the money-spinning group stage have left the club cruelly exposed. If Celtic want a real shot at playing against the elite and putting in good performance just one thing is required – money.
'Registering interest' won't do. Losing players by low-balling clubs in a bid to save half a mill won't do. Desperation-soaked loan deals won't do.
Tens of European millions can only be accessed by spending Scottish millions. You know what needs to be done this season, Celtic.
Don't mess it up.
