One of the big standouts of Sunday’s old firm match is that it is a literal first in history for many Rangers fans, certainly all those of a certain age. Indeed, Ibrox Noise and those among our group may be a little older, but even we do not recall this precedent occurring before either.
A League Wide Open
What is that precedent? It is the very first time that the league has been this wide open in March. For as long as we can remember, potentially going back decades, the season is decided by around this point by either Rangers or Celtic.
In the last 14 years, it has of course been Celtic since 2012. Every single season they had the title sewn up, whether Rangers were there or not, by around February or March. Rangers’ solitary title in the last 14 years was also won around February or March in 2021, of course.
This is a first where the match is completely wide open and either side in March could still win the title. It carries a further twist with the involvement of Hearts.
Living Memory
This is an absolute first in living memory, certainly for about 20 years if not longer, that an Old Firm match is not a dead rubber at this time of the season. The last time we remember an old firm match genuinely meaning something at about this point was March 2012.
Rangers refused to lose to Celtic at Ibrox and have the title lost at home, just when we were going into administration. Celtic had to win that match for the title to be decided in their favour. Rangers got the victory that day and killed that possibility.
That is the only time around spring that an old firm match has actually mattered in any single sense. At that point in 2012 the league had already gone.
Unprecedented Pressure
Nevertheless, this is the difference. The title race is completely wide open this season for the first time at this stage in as long as we can remember. It is therefore the first time that even pre-split, this close to the split, either of the Old Firm sides and indeed Hearts could win the title.
Everything rests on this fixture. There are two Old Firm matches left, this one and then the split one. Consequently, it has never been this open before.
It is quite unprecedented to have this level of pressure, expectation and potential resting in March. That is a very unprecedented scenario for as long as any of us can remember. And what a difference it is making to the whole psychology of this title race.