THE midweek win against Hamilton Accies on Wednesday night was routine enough for Celtic, in essence, the game won by half-time to take their unbeaten run to 69 games in domestic competition. 

That is some achievement, but there seems to be a sense of ‘so what?’ in some places.

What has happened this season is that Celtic’s European results have been taken into the equation, where they’ve been beaten heavily in games against the like of PSG and Bayern, as well as last week at home to Anderlecht.  

That has made it easy for folk to dismiss what Celtic have continued to do in Scotland, week after week, game after game.

Those who are being dismissive of  the run Brendan Rodgers and his team are on have really no idea just what a magnificent feat it is.

Let me put it another way.

Sixty-nine games is effectively two entire league campaigns. Does that change your take on things?

Or, what if a player had won 69 caps for Scotland, for instance? That would be looked upon as being quite special – but there are lots of players who have won in and around that total. Celtic stand alone with their domestic record and that deserves to be acknowledged each time it is improved upon, because you just know, there will be those who will have a field day when it comes to an end.

Trust me, anyone in football, or indeed any sport, would admire what Celtic have done, simply because they would appreciate the effort that goes in to keeping that run going.

Forget the quality or standard of the opposition; you can only beat – or stay unbeaten – against what is put in front of you. In every match, all it takes is a fluke or freak goal and you could be in trouble. Celtic have managed to avoid them, but even last Sunday, it took a timely intervention from Mikael Lustig to give Celtic a draw.

They had been winning that game, cruising at 2-0 before Hibs came back. But even once they had lost a two-goal lead, and the heads could have been down as they came under increasing pressure near the end, they still showed that determination not to lose, typified by Lustig’s clearance off the line.

The risk of defeat is always there. All it takes is for the team to have an off night, or under-perform on a freezing cold afternoon, or the opposition to arrive inspired and up for it, rather like Hibernian were at Easter Road on Sunday during the second half. But taking all of that in to account, as well as how much thinking opposition managers have put in to games, in terms of formations, and tactics and personnel, still no-one has come up with the magic formula to beat this Celtic teams.

What is doubly satisfying, and indeed commendable, is that Celtic are continuing to win things, or, put themselves in the best possible position for more silverware.

It has never been a case under Brendan Rodgers just to shut up shop, to maintain this run. Within it, with the cup ties they’ve had to play, Celtic have won matches where they could be considered most vulnerable, in a one-off situation where everything could be lost in just 90 minutes. If you want to use a boxing analogy, even the weakest or smallest of opponents have a punchers chance. But Celtic haven’t wilted or come off second best in that environment either. 

Indeed, they’ve won the last three knockout competitions which shows they are going for it. And why is that?

Because it matters. 

The unbeaten run maybe considered something of a sideshow,

something for the record books and nothing else. You won’t get a medal or a cup at the end of it. But what you will have taken is a step closer to the next big prize, whether that is the league title or another cup. And that relentlessness really must be hard for opposition teams to take. 

At the start of the season I intimated that Celtic could go another season unbeaten, but that was taking a lot of factors in to account, like injuries, form, how new players settle in, and, maybe more importantly, what your main rivals in the various competitions have at their disposal.

I may have said it, but did I believe it? Maybe not, but then I didn’t think it could have been done the first time. Why?

Because I played in, and managed, good teams. 

We are now nearly at Christmas and the New Year period, with some big games coming up for Celtic, and they are still setting the pace in the league, and, unbeaten.

If they get through these few weeks, we are into January where Celtic can rest, maybe even add some strength in depth during the transfer window, and come back for the run in, when historically, Celtic have been at their strongest. Right now, anything is possible.